ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1573-3464
Current Organisation
University of Melbourne
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Public Health and Health Services | Epidemiology | Applied Sociology, Program Evaluation and Social Impact Assessment | Sociology | Care for Disabled | Social Policy | Mental Health | Health and Community Services | Comparative and Cross-Cultural Education | Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety | Psychological Methodology, Design And Analysis | Population Trends and Policies | Race and Ethnic Relations | Education Studies Not Elsewhere Classified | Econometric and Statistical Methods | Demography | Public Health And Health Services Not Elsewhere Classified | Policy and Administration | Public Policy | Health Promotion | Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified | Counselling, Welfare And Community Services | Sociological Methodology And Research Methods |
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Social Structure and Health | Disability and Functional Capacity | Mental Health | Social Class and Inequalities | Education and training not elsewhere classified | Cultural Understanding not elsewhere classified | Demography | Workforce Transition and Employment | Studies in human society | Public Services Policy Advice and Analysis | Communication Across Languages and Culture | Political science and public policy | Behavioural and cognitive sciences | Health and support services not elsewhere classified | Women's Health | Structure, Delivery and Financing of Community Services | Social structure and health | Health Inequalities
Related Links
Publications
Weight and place: A multilevel cross-sectional survey of area-level social disadvantage and overweight/obesity in Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-12-2006
Abstract: To estimate variation between small areas in adult body mass index (BMI), and assess the importance of area level socioeconomic disadvantage in predicting BMI. We identified all census collector districts (CCDs) in the 20 innermost Local Government Areas in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, and ranked them by the percentage of low income households (< dollar 400/week). In all, 50 CCDs were randomly selected from the least, middle and most disadvantaged septiles of the ranked list and 4913 residents (61.4% participation rate) completed one of two surveys. Multilevel linear regression was used to estimate area level variance in BMI and the importance of area level socioeconomic disadvantage in predicting BMI. There were significant variations in BMI between CCDs for women, even after adjustment for in idual and area SES (P = 0.012) significant area variation was not found for men. Living in the most versus least disadvantaged areas was associated with an average difference in BMI of 1.08 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.48-1.68 kg/m2) for women, and of 0.93 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.32-1.55 kg/m2) for men. Living in the mid versus least disadvantaged areas were associated with an average difference in BMI of 0.67 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.09-1.26 kg/m2) for women, and 0.43 kg/m2 for men (95% CI: -0.16-1.01). These findings suggest that area disadvantage is an important predictor of adult BMI, and support the need to focus on improving local environments to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in overweight and obesity.
Associations of public transport accessibility with walking, obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
Embodied risk: My body, myself?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-1998
DOI: 10.1016/S0277-9536(97)00188-3
Abstract: Risk has become a dominant way to interpret who gets sick and why. A distinction has been drawn between two categories of risk: those arising from the environment, and those resulting from an in idual's lifestyle. We identify a third category that might be called corporeal or embodied risk which has received little scholarly attention. Embodied risks are so called because they are located in the body of the person said to be "at risk". Environmental risks are due to something that happens to a person lifestyle risks occur because of something a person does or does not do, while embodied risks say something about who the person is. To investigate how people experience health risks--especially risks identified as characteristics of their bodies--we conducted detailed interviews with 29 women who were told they had an abnormal Pap smear. All health risks pose problems for people who are diagnosed as "at risk": They must translate probabilistic statements about populations into terms that have personal meaning they must cope with uncertainty they must consider what it means to be in danger of developing an illness even though most have no symptoms and they must mobilise appropriate surveillance and perhaps risk reduction. However, limiting attention to environmental and lifestyle risk (and the distinction between them) neglects the additional challenges posed by corporeal risks: the simultaneous presence of disease now and the possibility of more consequential disease in the future the necessity to submit to ongoing medical surveillance a tendency to exacerbate the cartesian split between body and self and the absence of medical or popular discourses through which to interpret and respond to embodied risk. We call upon medicine and public health practitioners to work together with people who are at risk to formulate languages and approaches that can reflect both scientific accuracy (as it is currently understood), and the needs of people to integrate health threats into their daily personal lives.
Tumour Size at Detection According to Different Measures of Mammographic Breast Density
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 09-2009
Abstract: Breast cancer prognosis is better for smaller tumours. Women with high breast density are at higher risk of breast cancer and have larger screen-detected and interval cancers in mammographic screening programmes. We assess which continuous measures of breast density are the strongest predictors of breast tumour size at detection and therefore the best measures to identify women who might benefit from more intensive mammographic screening or alternative screening strategies. We compared the association between breast density and tumour size for 1007 screen-detected and 341 interval cancers diagnosed in an Australian mammographic screening programme between 1994 and 1996, for three semi-automated continuous measures of breast density: per cent density, dense area and dense area adjusted for non-dense area. After adjustment for age, hormone therapy use, family history of breast cancer and mode of detection (screen-detected or interval cancers), all measures of breast density shared a similar positive and significant association with tumour size. For ex le, tumours increased in size with dense area from an estimated mean 2.2 mm larger in the second quintile (β = 2.2 95% Cl 0.4–3.9, P 0.001) to mean 6.6 mm larger in the highest decile of dense area (β = 6.6 95% Cl 4.4–8.9, P 0.001), when compared with first quintile of breast density. Of the breast density measures assessed, either dense area or per cent density are suitable measures for identifying women who might benefit from more intensive mammographic screening or alternative screening strategies.
Means and extremes: building variability into community-level climate change experiments
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-02-2013
DOI: 10.1111/ELE.12095
Abstract: Experimental studies assessing climatic effects on ecological communities have typically applied static warming treatments. Although these studies have been informative, they have usually failed to incorporate either current or predicted future, patterns of variability. Future climates are likely to include extreme events which have greater impacts on ecological systems than changes in means alone. Here, we review the studies which have used experiments to assess impacts of temperature on marine, freshwater and terrestrial communities, and classify them into a set of 'generations' based on how they incorporate variability. The majority of studies have failed to incorporate extreme events. In terrestrial ecosystems in particular, experimental treatments have reduced temperature variability, when most climate models predict increased variability. Marine studies have tended to not concentrate on changes in variability, likely in part because the thermal mass of oceans will moderate variation. In freshwaters, climate change experiments have a much shorter history than in the other ecosystems, and have tended to take a relatively simple approach. We propose a new 'generation' of climate change experiments using down-scaled climate models which incorporate predicted changes in climatic variability, and describe a process for generating data which can be applied as experimental climate change treatments.
Variation in mammographic appearance between projections of small breast cancers compared with radial scars
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1754-9485.2010.02194.X
Abstract: The study aims to assess variation in appearance between mammographic projections (conspicuity variation) for invasive breast cancers (IBCs) compared with radial scars (RS). Conspicuity variation has been previously described as characteristic of RS. The lesions were also compared with respect to breast density and the proportion of cases detected by one of two readers and required a third (consensus) read. The study was approved by the BreastScreen Victoria research committee. Mammograms of 75 randomly selected invasive breast cancers, with histological diameter ≤10 mm (IBC), were mixed with 67 consecutively detected RS, all from a double-reading population-based breast cancer screening programme. On blinded review, these 142 lesions were classified for mammographic findings and assessed for marked or minor conspicuity variation between views. We assessed the associations between lesion type, lesion spicules and centres, breast density, conspicuity variation and proportion detected by one reader only. Marked conspicuity variation was common, but not statistically different for IBC and RS (64% vs. 66%, χ(2) = 0.8, P = 0.04). Conspicuity variation did not correlate with spiculation type (long, fine or short, broad based) or lesion centres (lucent or dense) (ρ < 0.05, P = 0.5), and showed no significant change with increasing Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System breast density (IBC, χ(2) = 2.3, P = 0.5 RS, χ(2) = 0.95, P = 0.6). Density did not vary by lesion type. In the screening programme, 29% of IBC (125 of 431) versus 43% of RS (32 of 75) had been detected by one of two readers (χ(2) = 2.7, P = 0.098). Two-thirds of small IBCs displayed marked conspicuity variation, similar to RS. Therefore, conspicuity variation does not discriminate between IBC and RS.
The effect of gender on mental health service use: an examination of mediation through material, social and health-related pathways
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-02-2020
Psychosocial working conditions in a representative sample of working Australians 2001-2008: an analysis of changes in inequalities over time.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 30-05-2013
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2012-101171
Abstract: A number of widely prevalent job stressors have been identified as modifiable risk factors for common mental and physical illnesses such as depression and cardiovascular disease, yet there has been relatively little study of population trends in exposure to job stressors over time. The aims of this paper were to assess: (1) overall time trends in job control and security and (2) whether disparities by sex, age, skill level and employment arrangement were changing over time in the Australian working population. Job control and security were measured in eight annual waves (2000-2008) from the Australian nationally-representative Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia panel survey (n=13 188 unique in iduals for control and n=13 182 for security). Observed and model-predicted time trends were generated. Models were generated using population-averaged longitudinal linear regression, with year fitted categorically. Changes in disparities over time by sex, age group, skill level and employment arrangement were tested as interactions between each of these stratifying variables and time. While significant disparities persisted for disadvantaged compared with advantaged groups, results suggested that inequalities in job control narrowed among young workers compared with older groups and for casual, fixed-term and self-employed compared with permanent workers. A slight narrowing of disparities over time in job security was noted for gender, age, employment arrangement and occupational skill level. Despite the favourable findings of small reductions in disparities in job control and security, significant cross-sectional disparities persist. Policy and practice intervention to improve psychosocial working conditions for disadvantaged groups could reduce these persisting disparities and associated illness burdens.
Socioeconomic position, gender, health behaviours and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and diabetes
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
Gender Equity and Contraceptive Use in China: An Ecological Analysis
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 30-11-2011
Hormone replacement therapy and accuracy of mammographic screening.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2000
Underemployment and its impacts on mental health among those with disabilities: Evidence from the HILDA cohort
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 29-09-2017
Abstract: Underemployment (defined as when a person in paid employment works for fewer hours than their desired full working capacity) is increasingly recognised as a component of employment precarity. This paper sought to investigate the effects of underemployment on the mental health of people with disabilities. Using 14 waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, we used fixed-effects models to assess whether the presence of a disability modified the association between underemployment and mental health. Both disability and underemployment were assessed as time-varying factors. Measures of effect measure modification were presented on the additive scale. The experience of underemployment was associated with a significantly greater decline in mental health when a person reported a disability (mean difference -1.38, 95% CI -2.20 to -0.57) compared with when they did not report a disability (mean difference -0.49, 95% CI -0.84 to -0.14). The combined effect of being underemployed and having a disability was nearly one point greater than the summed independent risks of having a disability and being underemployed (-0.89, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.03). People with disabilities are more likely to experience underemployment and more likely to have their mental health adversely affected by it. There is a need for more research and policy attention on how to ameliorate the effects of underemployment on the mental health of persons with disabilities.
Area-level socioeconomic status and incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism: , The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study.
Publisher: American Diabetes Association
Date: 12-06-2012
DOI: 10.2337/DC11-1410
Abstract: To examine the role of area-level socioeconomic status (SES) on the development of abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) using national, population-based data. The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study is a national, population-based, longitudinal study of adults aged ≥25 years. A s le of 4,572 people provided complete baseline (1999 to 2000) and 5-year follow-up (2004 to 2005) data relevant for these analyses. Incident AGM was assessed using fasting plasma glucose and 2-h plasma glucose from oral glucose tolerance tests, and demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral data were collected by interview and questionnaire. Area SES was defined using the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the relationship between area SES and incident AGM, with adjustment for covariates and correction for cluster design effects. Area SES predicted the development of AGM, after adjustment for age, sex, and in idual SES. People living in areas with the most disadvantage were significantly more likely to develop AGM, compared with those living in the least deprived areas (odds ratio 1.53 95% CI 1.07–2.18). Health behaviors (in particular, physical activity) and central adiposity appeared to partially mediate this relationship. Our findings suggest that characteristics of the physical, social, and economic aspects of local areas influence diabetes risk. Future research should focus on identifying the aspects of local environment that are associated with diabetes risk and how they might be modified.
Determination of selected emerging contaminants in freshwater invertebrates using a universal extraction technique and liquid chromatography accurate mass spectrometry
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-09-2018
Abstract: A simple s le preparation method based on a modified liquid-phase extraction approach to extract selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products from freshwater organisms is described. Extracted s les were analysed using liquid chromatography with Q-Exactive plus hybrid quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry, using 2.6 μm C18 media. A 0.1% v/v acetic acid/acetonitrile mobile phase was applied over a 20 min gradient. Method detection limits in full scan mode were ca. 0.04-2.38 ng of analyte per g of s le. Linearity ranged from 0.9750 to 0.9996 over the calibration range of 0.01-100 μg/L MS mass accuracy was <2 ppm for most analytes. This method was applied to quantify six pharmaceuticals and personal care products in seven invertebrate s les. For tandem mass spectrometry analysis, selection of precursor ions was performed for each pharmaceutical, with Mass Frontier software illustrating the fragmentation mechanism. Effects of collision energy on intensities of ions was further investigated. The tandem mass spectrometry condition resulting in the highest signal of respective selected product ion was selected to confirm each pharmaceutical, which was initially observed in the full scan mode. Results indicate that pharmaceuticals and personal care products found to be present in water-ways, may be incorporated into organisms that live in the environment of affected water streams.
Predicting nonattendance for colposcopy clinic follow-up after referral for an abnormal Pap smear
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-1996
Gender equity and women's contraception use
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2008
Inequalities in social capital and health between people with and without disabilities
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2014.12.009
Abstract: The poor mental and physical health of people with disabilities has been well documented and there is evidence to suggest that inequalities in health between people with and without disabilities may be at least partly explained by the socioeconomic disadvantage (e.g. low education, unemployment) experienced by people with disabilities. Although there are fewer studies documenting inequalities in social capital, the evidence suggests that people with disabilities are also disadvantaged in this regard. We drew on Bourdieu's conceptualisation of social capital as the resources that flow to in iduals from their membership of social networks. Using data from the General Social Survey 2010 of 15,028 adults living in private dwellings across non-remote areas of Australia, we measured social capital across three domains: informal networks (contact with family and friends) formal networks (group membership and contacts in influential organisations) and social support (financial, practical and emotional). We compared levels of social capital and self-rated health for people with and without disabilities and for people with different types of impairments (sensory and speech, physical, psychological and intellectual). Further, we assessed whether differences in levels of social capital contributed to inequalities in health between people with and without disabilities. We found that people with disabilities were worse off than people without disabilities in regard to informal and formal networks, social support and self-rated health status, and that inequalities were greatest for people with intellectual and psychological impairments. Differences in social capital did not explain the association between disability and health. These findings underscore the importance of developing social policies which promote the inclusion of people with disabilities, according to the varying needs of people with different impairments types. Given the changing policy environment, ongoing monitoring of the living circumstances of people with disabilities, including disaggregation of data by impairment type, is critical.
Predictors of non-attendance for second round mammography in an Australian mammographic screening programme.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-2000
DOI: 10.1136/JMS.7.4.190
Abstract: Objective To determine the socioeconomic, cultural, and clinical predictors of non-attendance for second round mammography. Design articipantsRetrospective cohort study of 121 889 women aged 50–69 years who attended for first mammography screening in the BreastScreen Victoria programme in 1995/1996 and who were recommended to be invited for routine biennial mammography. Women were considered to be non-attenders if they had not attended for rescreening within 27 months of their initial screening. Relative risk (RR) was used to compare categories for non-attendance for second screening, and a multivariate model was fitted to adjust for possible confounding. Setting BreastScreen Victoria, a population based mammographic screening programme, which offers free biennial mammography to all women 40 years and older. The programme specifically targets women aged 50–69 years. Results In the multivariate analysis, women from non-English speaking backgrounds were more likely not to attend for second round screening (RR ranged from 1.18 to 1.77). Indigenous women (RR 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.61 to 2.54) and women who reported either significant symptoms (RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.76 to 2.05) or other breast symptoms (RR 2.25, 95% CI 2.15 to 2.36) at the time of first round screening were also more likely not to attend for second round screening. Conclusions Women from non-English speaking backgrounds, indigenous women, and women who report symptoms at the time of first screening are more likely to not attend for second round screening. It is important to investigate why these women do not attend for second round screening so that services can be more appropriately tailored to their needs.
Histological markers that predict clinical recurrence in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: an Australian population-based study.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2004
Neighborhood disadvantage and body mass index: A study of residential relocation
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 17-01-2018
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWX390
Abstract: Natural experiments, such as longitudinal observational studies that follow-up residents as they relocate, provide a strong basis to infer causation between the neighborhood environment and health. In this study, we examined whether changes in the level of neighborhood disadvantage were associated with changes in body mass index (BMI) after residential relocation. This analysis included data from 928 residents who relocated between 2007 and 2013, across 4 waves of the How Areas in Brisbane Influence Health and Activity (HABITAT) study in Brisbane, Australia. Neighborhood disadvantage was measured using a census-derived composite index. For in idual-level data, participants self-reported their height, weight, education, occupation, and household income. Data were analyzed using multilevel, hybrid linear models. Women residing in less disadvantaged neighborhoods had a lower BMI, but there was no association among men. Neighborhood disadvantage was not associated with within-in idual changes in BMI among men or women when moving to a new neighborhood. Despite a growing body of literature suggesting an association between neighborhood disadvantage and BMI, we found this association may not be causal among middle-aged and older adults. Observing associations between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and BMI over the life course, including the impact of residential relocation at younger ages, remains a priority for future research.
Social capital and health in rural and urban communities in South Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1753-6405.2009.00332.X
Abstract: This paper seeks to compare the relationships between social capital and health for rural and urban residents of South Australia. Using data from a South Australian telephone survey of 2,013 respondents (1,402 urban and 611 rural), separate path analyses for the rural and urban s les were used to compare the relationships between six social capital measures, six demographic variables, and mental and physical health (measured by the SF-12). Higher levels of networks, civic participation and cohesion were reported in rural areas. Education and income were consistently linked with social capital variables for both rural and urban participants, with those on higher incomes and with higher educational achievement having higher levels of social capital. However, there were also differences between the rural and urban groups in some of the other predictors of social capital variables. Mental health was better among rural participants, but there was no significant difference for physical health. Social capital was associated with good mental health for both urban and rural participants, but with physical health only for urban participants. Higher levels of social capital were significantly associated with better mental health for both urban and rural participants, but with better physical health only for urban participants. The study found that social capital and its relationship to health differed for participants in rural and urban areas, and that there were also differences between the areas in associations with socioeconomic variables. Policies aiming to strengthen social capital in order to promote health need to be designed for specific settings and particular communities within these.
Duration of hormone replacement therapy, breast tumour size and grade in a screening programme.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-2003
Association between housing affordability and mental health: A longitudinal analysis of a nationally representative household survey in Australia
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-08-2011
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWR161
Abstract: Evidence about the mental health consequences of unaffordable housing is limited. The authors investigated whether people whose housing costs were more than 30% of their household income experienced a deterioration in their mental health (using the Short Form 36 Mental Component Summary), over and above other forms of financial stress. They hypothesized that associations would be limited to lower income households as high housing costs would reduce their capacity to purchase other essential nonhousing needs (e.g., food). Using fixed-effects longitudinal regression, the authors analyzed 38,610 responses of 10,047 in iduals aged 25-64 years who participated in the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey (2001-2007). Respondents included those who remained in affordable housing over 2 consecutive waves (reference group) or had moved from affordable to unaffordable housing over 2 waves (comparison group). For in iduals living in low-to-moderate income households, entering unaffordable housing was associated with a small decrease in their mental health score independent of changes in equivalized household income or having moved house (mean change = -1.19, 95% confidence interval: -1.97, -0.41). The authors did not find evidence to support an association for higher income households. They found that entering unaffordable housing is detrimental to the mental health of in iduals residing in low-to-moderate income households.
Combining fixed effects and instrumental variable approaches for estimating the effect of psychosocial job quality on mental health: Evidence from 13 waves of a nationally representative cohort study.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 23-06-2018
Abstract: Previous studies suggest that poor psychosocial job quality is a risk factor for mental health problems, but they use conventional regression analytic methods that cannot rule out reverse causation, unmeasured time-invariant confounding and reporting bias. This study combines two quasi-experimental approaches to improve causal inference by better accounting for these biases: (i) linear fixed effects regression analysis and (ii) linear instrumental variable analysis. We extract 13 annual waves of national cohort data including 13 260 working-age (18-64 years) employees. The exposure variable is self-reported level of psychosocial job quality. The instruments used are two common workplace entitlements. The outcome variable is the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). We adjust for measured time-varying confounders. In the fixed effects regression analysis adjusted for time-varying confounders, a 1-point increase in psychosocial job quality is associated with a 1.28-point improvement in mental health on the MHI-5 scale (95% CI: 1.17, 1.40 P < 0.001). When the fixed effects was combined with the instrumental variable analysis, a 1-point increase psychosocial job quality is related to 1.62-point improvement on the MHI-5 scale (95% CI: -0.24, 3.48 P = 0.088). Our quasi-experimental results provide evidence to confirm job stressors as risk factors for mental ill health using methods that improve causal inference.
Sexual Functioning in Men With and Without Disabilities: Findings From a Representative Sample of Australian Men
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 28-08-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSXM.2019.07.021
Abstract: Studies on sexual function in men with disabilities have mainly relied on clinical s les population-based evidence on this topic is limited. The aim of this study was to compare aspects of sexual function between disabled and nondisabled men using a representative s le. We used data from Ten to Men, a national cohort study of Australian men aged 18−55 years. We first compared the prevalence of 15 sexual function-related difficulties in disabled vs non-disabled men. Next, we used Poisson regression to examine associations between disability and sexual function. The main analytic s le had 8,496 men. Weights and adjustments appropriate to the s ling methodology were applied. Models adjusted for potential confounders. Results were reported as prevalence ratios (PRs). P values of & .05 were considered statistically significant. Outcomes were 15 in idual items from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles-Sexual Function, a validated measure of sexual function with items in 3 domains: physio-psychological aspect relational aspect and global self-rating (the 16th item on help-seeking was excluded). These were coded as binary variables denoting past-year sexual problems. Disabled men had higher prevalence of all outcomes than nondisabled men. 25.6% of men with disabilities and 15.1% of nondisabled men experienced at least 2 of 15 difficulties. The most prevalent problems were “orgasmed too early” (43.8% of disabled men, 37.1% of nondisabled men), imbalance of sexual desire between partners (47.6% of disabled men, 39.2% of nondisabled men), and overall sexual dissatisfaction (39.4% of disabled men, 26.7% of nondisabled men). All adjusted PRs were & 1.00 for disability associations were statistically significant except “partner experienced sexual difficulties” (PR = 1.23 95% CI = 0.99−1.53 P = .058) and “orgasmed too early” (PR = 1.16 95% CI = 1.00−1.35 P = .050). “Presence of discomfort ain” had the largest adjusted PR for disability (PR = 2.77 95% CI = 1.89−4.06 P & .001). This population-based analysis on the relationship between disability and sexual function contextualizes evidence from clinical studies. Findings suggest that disparities between men with and without disability exist but are not uniform across different aspects of sexual function. Two major strengths of this study are that the s le included a nondisabled reference group and results are generalizable to Australian men. A key limitation is that disability and sexual function measures are self-reported. This study provides a broad foundation of population-based evidence about sexual function in men with disabilities, relative to men without, showing positive associations between disability and 13 of 15 sexual difficulties.
Radiological review of interval cancers in an Australian mammographic screening programme. Radiology Quality Assurance Group of BreastScreen Victoria.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 12-2000
DOI: 10.1136/JMS.7.4.184
Abstract: Objectives To determine the proportion and features of invasive interval cancers that could be considered detectable at the time of the previous screen and the proportion of cases that could be classified as true intervals, false negatives, minimal signs, or radiographically occult lesions. Setting BreastScreen Victoria, the Victorian component of the BreastScreen Australia mammography screening programme. Methods Two separate review methodologies were adopted. Firstly a blinded review of interval, screen detected, and normal cases was undertaken, followed by a confirmation exercise to determine the proportion of invasive interval cancers that could be considered detectable at the time of the previous screen. Secondly, an unblinded review was performed to classify interval cases as true interval, false negative, minimal signs, or radiographically occult. Results From the blinded review, it was estimated that 38% of interval cases may be considered “potentially detectable” at the time of screening. Comparison of the characteristics of interval and screen detected cases indicates that interval cases are more likely to be smaller, equivocal, ill defined masses. In the unblinded exercise, 41% of interval cases were classified as false negatives and a further 16% as minimal signs, 33% true intervals, and 10% radiographically occult. Of the interval cancers considered potentially detectable at screening, 97% were classified as false negatives in the unblinded review. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of adopting staged review methods with both blinded and unblinded components. The blinded review and confirmation exercise allows the determination of the proportion of interval cases that could be considered potentially detectable at screening. The unblinded review provides an active important opportunity for professional development and review and a mechanism to link into the blinded review through further classification of interval cases.
A versatile total internal reflection photometric detection cell for flow analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.TALANTA.2009.05.008
Abstract: A total internal reflection (TIR) flow-through cell that is highly tolerant of schlieren effects, has limited hydrodynamic dispersion and does not trap gas bubbles, and which is suitable for sensitive photometric measurements in flow analysis, is described. Light from an optical fibre is introduced into a short length of quartz capillary through the sidewall at an incident angle of ca. 53 degrees. Under this condition, incident light undergoes total internal reflection from the external air-quartz interface and is propagated by successive reflections from the external walls through the aqueous liquid core of the cell. Detection of the transmitted beam is enabled by intentionally introducing an optical coupling medium at a predetermined distance along the capillary wall, which allows the internally reflected light to be captured by a second optical fibre connected to a charge-couple device detector. This configuration embodies a number of the desirable features of a liquid core waveguide cell (i.e. total internal reflection), a multi-reflection (MR) flow cell (i.e. minimum susceptibility to schlieren effects, low hydrodynamic dispersion and little tendency to trap bubbles), and a conventional Z-cell (wide dynamic range). When employed with a flow injection system, a limit of detection of 2.0 microg PL(-1) was achieved for the determination of reactive phosphate using the TIR cell, compared with LOD values of 3.8 microg PL(-1) and 4.9 microg PL(-1) obtained using the MR and Z-cells with same manifold. The combined advantages of schlieren-tolerance and lack of bubble entrapment of the MR cell with the higher S/N ratio and wider dynamic range of a conventional Z-cell, make the TIR cell eminently useful for photometric measurements of s les with widely differing refractive indices.
Does the effect of disability acquisition on mental health differ by employment characteristics? A longitudinal fixed-effects analysis
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-10-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S00127-019-01783-X
Abstract: Longitudinal studies have suggested a causal relationship between disability acquisition and mental health, but there is substantial heterogeneity in the magnitude of the effect. Previous studies have provided evidence that socioeconomic characteristics can buffer the effect but have not examined the role of employment characteristics. We used data from 17 annual waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey to compare the mental health of working age in iduals before and after disability acquisition, using the Mental Health Inventory, a subscale of the SF-36 health questionnaire. Linear fixed-effects regression models were used to estimate the effect of disability acquisition on mental health. We tested for effect modification by two characteristics of people’s employment prior to disability acquisition: occupational skill level and contract type. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to handle missing data. Disability acquisition was associated with a substantial decline in mental health score (estimated mean difference: − 4.3, 95% CI − 5.0, − 3.5). There was evidence of effect modification by occupational skill level, with the largest effects seen for those in low-skilled jobs (− 6.1, 95% CI − 7.6, − 4.5), but not for contract type. The findings highlight the need for social and health policies that focus on increasing employment rates, improving the sustainability of employment, and providing employment services and education and training opportunities for people who acquire a disability, particularly for people in low-skilled occupations, to reduce the mental health inequalities experienced by people with disabilities.
Exposure to discrimination and subsequent changes in self-rated health: prospective evidence from the UK's Life Opportunities Survey
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
The short-term financial costs of abnormal Pap smears to women and government in Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-1998
DOI: 10.1111/J.1467-842X.1998.TB01390.X
Abstract: Using data collected from a private Canberra colposcopy service, we examined the direct costs, to women and government, of the gynaecological care of women with cervical cytological abnormalities and determine the potential savings of implementing the Commonwealth recommendations for the clinical care of women with screen-detected abnormalities. We performed a case note audit of 502 women who first attended a gynaecologist because of an abnormal Pap smear between 1 January 1989 and 30 April 1990. The smear resulting in their referral--their presenting smear--was categorised as No CIN (showing no evidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia), CIN 1, CIN 2 and CIN 3. The average costs to government (p for trend < 0.001) and women (p for trend = 0.006) increase as the presenting smear increases in severity the median costs to government (p for trend < 0.001) and women (p for trend < 0.001) also rose with increasing cytological severity. Treatment of CIN 1 and No CIN accounted for half the costs incurred by government and women. Although costs increase with increasing severity of cytological abnormality, adherence to new Australian guidelines for the gynaecological care of women with screen-detected cervical abnormalities could result in substantial short-term savings to government and women.
Local environments as determinants of walking in Melbourne, Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2010.01.041
Abstract: Structural changes to neighbourhoods that promote walking are likely to benefit everyone in a community and result in long-term improvements in the population's physical activity and health. We consider time spent walking in relation to objectively measured features of people's local environments (functionality, safety, destinations and aesthetics) in Melbourne, Australia. We used multilevel ordered logistic regression analysis to examine variations in time spent walking amongst 2334 residents of 49 small areas (Census Collection Districts - CCDs). Features on each street segment within a 400 m radius of a randomly selected household within each CCD were measured, supplemented by geographic information system data. Models were adjusted for socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics of in idual and socio-economic characteristics of areas. We found that increasing track length, having paths located closer to roads, fewer buildings with driveways, a greater presence and variety of destinations and views of shops, light industry, offices and/or schools (commercial views) were associated with more time spent walking in local environments in adjusted models. As such, each of the four features of local environments considered (design, safety, destinations and aesthetics) were associated on at least one measure with walking. Characteristics of areas reflecting urbanisation (destinations, commercial views, path location and driveways) were associated with increased time spent walking. This study provides important evidence on how urban design can be utilised to improve physical activity.
Women's understanding of abnormal cervical smear test results: a qualitative interview study.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-05-1997
The mental health status of young adult and mid-life non-heterosexual Australian women
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2005
DOI: 10.1111/J.1467-842X.2005.TB00766.X
Abstract: To compare the mental health status of early adult and mid-life Australian women according to sexual orientation. Cross-sectional analyses of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) surveys for the younger (22-27 years) and mid-age (50-55 years) cohorts. Women were classified into one of four groups: exclusively heterosexual, mainly heterosexual, bisexual and lesbian. Regression analyses were used to examine the effects of sexual orientation on mental health after adjusting for age, region of residence and education and to assess the potential mediating roles of stress, abuse and social support. Younger, mainly heterosexual, bisexual and lesbian women had poorer mental health outcomes than exclusively heterosexual women on all outcome measures except anxiety in lesbian women, even after adjustment for age, region and education. Mid-age mainly heterosexual women had poorer mental health on all outcomes except for medically diagnosed anxiety and bisexual women had significantly higher odds of self-harm than exclusively heterosexual women. All non-heterosexual women in both cohorts reported higher levels of stress and lifetime abuse. Controlling for stress, abuse and social support attenuated the mental health findings. The poorer mental health in young non-heterosexual women and mid-life mainly heterosexual women highlights the need for health care providers to be particularly sensitive to mental health issues in these women. Stress, social support and lifetime abuse may play a role in explaining the poorer mental health and discrimination may also be important.
In situ and small invasive breast cancer register in Victoria, 1988 to 1992: Tumour characteristics and patient management
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-05-2001
DOI: 10.1046/J.1440-1622.2001.02100.X
Abstract: All cases of in situ and invasive breast cancer are reported to the Victorian Cancer Registry. In 1988 a special subregister of all cases of carcinoma in situ and small invasive cancers up to 10 mm in size was established--the In situ and Small Invasive Breast Cancer Register (ISSIBCR). This was unique in being a population-based register and only possible because in Victoria, as in some other Australian states, all cancers including in situ disease are reported to the Central Cancer Registry. Between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 1992, 517 cases of in situ cancers and 892 invasive cancers of < or =10 mm in diameter were registered. During the study period, mammography screening was progressively introduced in Victoria and the number of cases, in both categories registered annually, doubled. The method of detection, the pathology and treatment of these lesions are described. It is of interest that 46.5% of the in situ cancers and 68.8% of the invasive cancers were detected either by the patient or her doctor on clinical examination. Total mastectomy was the method of treatment in 35.4% of in situ cancers and 42.0% of small invasive tumours. Only 38.0% of patients with small invasive cancers treated by breast-conserving surgery had irradiation of the affected breast. This register provides a valuable resource for the follow up of the natural history and outcome of treatment of the affected women.
Conformity to masculine norms: Differences between men with and without a disability.
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Date: 07-2020
DOI: 10.1037/MEN0000236
Using functional data analysis models to estimate future time trends in age-specific breast cancer mortality for the United States and England-Wales
Publisher: Japan Epidemiological Association
Date: 2010
A Longitudinal Study Examining Changes in Street Connectivity, Land Use, and Density of Dwellings and Walking for Transport in Brisbane, Australia
Publisher: Environmental Health Perspectives
Date: 21-05-2018
DOI: 10.1289/EHP2080
Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and body mass index among residentially stable mid-older aged adults: Findings from the HABITAT multilevel longitudinal study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.YPMED.2017.09.017
Abstract: Despite a body of evidence on the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and body mass index (BMI), few studies have examined this relationship over time among ageing populations. This study examined associations between level of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and the rate of change in BMI over time. The s le included 11,035 participants aged between 40 and 65years at baseline from the HABITAT study, residing in 200 neighborhoods in Brisbane, Australia. Data were collected biennially over four waves from 2007 to 2013. Self-reported height and weight were used to calculate BMI, while neighborhood disadvantage was measured using a census-based composite index. All models were adjusted for age, education, occupation, and household income. Analyses were conducted using multilevel linear regression models. BMI increased over time at a rate of 0.08kg/m
Underway determination of alkalinity in estuarine waters by reagent-injection gas-diffusion flow analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 15-12-2008
Fourteen-gauge needle core biopsy of mammographically evident radial scars
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-01-2003
DOI: 10.1002/CNCR.11070
Mental health of adolescents: variations by borderline intellectual functioning and disability
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-02-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S00787-019-01278-9
Abstract: Adolescence is a period of elevated stress for many young people, and it is possible that the challenges of adolescence are different for vulnerable groups. We aimed to document the depressive and anxiety symptoms, emotional-behavioural difficulties and suicidal/self-harming behaviours among adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) or a disability, compared to those with neither disability nor BIF. Data were drawn from the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Participants were 2950 adolescents with complete data for waves 3-6 (years 2008-2014), aged 14-15 years in 2014. Anxiety and depression symptoms and self-harming/suicidal thought/behaviours were self-reported. Emotional-behavioural difficulties items came from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and were parent-, and adolescent-reported. Results of logistic regression analyses indicate that the emotional-behavioural difficulties of adolescents with either a disability or BIF, were worse than for those with neither disability nor BIF. While adolescents with a disability reported more anxiety symptoms, no clear associations were observed for self-harming/suicidal thoughts/behaviours or depressive symptoms for those with either BIF or a disability. Adolescents with BIF or a disability are at higher risk of poor mental health than those with neither disability nor BIF, and it is vital that factors contributing to these differences are identified in order to reduce these mental health inequalities.
The maternal health outcomes of paid maternity leave: A systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2015.02.001
Abstract: Paid maternity leave has become a standard benefit in many countries throughout the world. Although maternal health has been central to the rationale for paid maternity leave, no review has specifically examined the effect of paid maternity leave on maternal health. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of studies that examine the association between paid maternity leave and maternal health. We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts) and Google Scholar. We searched websites of relevant organisations, reference lists of key papers and journals, and citation indices for additional studies including those not in refereed journals. There were no language restrictions. Studies were included if they compared paid maternity leave versus no paid maternity leave, or different lengths of paid leave. Data were extracted and an assessment of bias was performed independently by authors. Seven studies were identified, with participants from Australia, Sweden, Norway, USA, Canada, and Lebanon. All studies used quantitative methodologies, including cohort, cross-sectional, and repeated cross-sectional designs. Outcomes included mental health and wellbeing, general health, physical wellbeing, and intimate partner violence. The four studies that examined leave at an in idual level showed evidence of maternal health benefits, whereas the three studies conducting policy-level comparisons reported either no association or evidence of a negative association. The synthesis of the results suggested that paid maternity leave provided maternal health benefits, although this varied depending on the length of leave. This has important implications for public health and social policy. However, all studies were subject to confounding bias and many to reverse causation. Given the small number of studies and the methodological limitations of the evidence, longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the effects of paid maternity leave on the health of mothers in paid employment.
Associations between the purchase of healthy and fast foods and restrictions to food access: A cross-sectional study in Melbourne, Australia
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 28-10-2015
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013002796
Abstract: To examine the associations between financial, physical and transport conditions that may restrict food access (which we define as food security indicators) and the purchase of fast foods and nutritious staples such as bread and milk. Multilevel logistic and multinomial regression analysis of cross-sectional survey data to assess associations between the three indicators of food insecurity and household food shopping adjusted for sociodemographic and socio-economic variables. Random selection of households ( n 3995) from fifty Census Collector Districts in Melbourne, Australia, in 2003. The main food shoppers in each household ( n 2564). After adjustment for confounders, analysis showed that a greater likelihood of purchasing chain-brand fast food on a weekly basis compared with never was associated with running out of money to buy food (OR = 1·59 95 % CI 1·08, 2·34) and reporting difficulties lifting groceries (OR = 1·77 95 % CI 1·23, 2·54). Respondents without regular access to a car to do food shopping were less likely to purchase bread types considered more nutritious than white bread (OR = 0·75 95 % CI 0·59, 0·95) and milk types considered more nutritious than full-cream milk (OR = 0·62 95 % CI 0·47, 0·81). The food insecurity indicators were not associated with the purchasing of fruits, vegetables or non-chain fast food. Householders experiencing financial and physical barriers were more likely to frequently purchase chain fast foods while limited access to a car resulted in a lower likelihood that the nutritious options were purchased for two core food items (bread and milk). Policies and interventions that improve financial access to food and lessen the effect of physical limitations to carrying groceries may reduce the purchasing of fast foods. Further research is required on food sourcing and dietary quality among those with food access restrictions.
Bullying victimization and racial discrimination among Australian children
Publisher: American Public Health Association
Date: 10-2016
Abstract: Objectives. To compare the prevalence of bullying victimization and racial discrimination by ethnicity. Methods. We completed a cross-sectional analysis of 3956 children aged 12 to 13 years from wave 5 (2011–2012) of the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Results. Bullying victimization and racial discrimination were weakly associated and differently patterned by ethnicity. Children from visible minorities reported less bullying victimization but more racial discrimination than did their peers with Australian-born parents. Indigenous children reported the highest risk of bullying victimization and racial discrimination. Conclusions. Peer victimization and racial discrimination each require specific attention as unique childhood stressors. A focus on general bullying victimization alone may miss unique stress exposures experienced by children from stigmatized ethnic backgrounds.
Examining the sensitivity of ultrasound-guided large core biopsy for invasive breast carcinoma in a population screening programme
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-03-2013
Identifying destination distances that support walking trips in local neighborhoods
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
The impact of the disability support pension on mental health: evidence from 14 years of an Australian cohort.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
An intersectional approach to understandings of mental health inequalities among men with disability
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
The effect of disability acquisition in adulthood on mental health: is the effect modified by demographic and socioeconomic factors?
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 09-2016
Intersections between disability, type of impairment, gender and socio-economic disadvantage in a nationally representative sample of 33,101 working-aged Australians
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.DHJO.2014.08.008
Abstract: People with disabilities are socio-economically disadvantaged and have poorer health than people without disabilities however, little is known about the way in which disadvantage is patterned by gender and type of impairment. 1. To describe whether socio-economic circumstances vary according to type of impairment (sensory and speech, intellectual, physical, psychological and acquired brain injury). 2. To compare levels of socio-economic disadvantage for women and men with the same impairment type. We used a large population-based disability-focused survey of Australians, analyzing data from 33,101 participants aged 25-64. Indicators of socio-economic disadvantage included education, income, employment, housing vulnerability, and multiple disadvantage. Stratified by impairment type, we estimated: the population weighted prevalence of socio-economic disadvantage the relative odds of disadvantage compared to people without disabilities and the relative odds of disadvantage between women and men. With few exceptions, people with disabilities fared worse for every indicator compared to people without disability those with intellectual and psychological impairments and acquired brain injuries were most disadvantaged. While overall women with disabilities were more disadvantaged than men, the magnitude of the relative differences was lower than the same comparisons between women and men without disabilities, and there were few differences between women and men with the same impairment types. Crude comparisons between people with and without disabilities obscure how disadvantage is patterned according to impairment type and gender. The results emphasize the need to unpack how gender and disability intersect to shape socio-economic disadvantage.
Psychosocial job quality in a national sample of working Australians: A comparison of persons working with versus without disability.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Socio-economic pathways to diet: modelling the association between socio-economic position and food purchasing behaviour.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 05-2006
DOI: 10.1079/PHN2006850
Does gender modify associations between self rated health and the social and economic characteristics of local environments?
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2006
Experiences of racial discrimination and cardiometabolic risk among Australian children
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
Different Conceptualizations of River Basins to Inform Management of Environmental Flows
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 11-10-2018
Walking: A Gender Issue?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2008
The intersection of developmental vulnerability and socioeconomic disadvantage on access to health care for preschool aged children: evidence for the inverse-care law
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 27-06-2019
Abstract: Aim. Children who are developmentally vulnerable have greater health needs. Socioeconomic disadvantage not only increases this risk of developmental vulnerability but can be associated with less access to health services. Our aim was to compare health services use in children aged 4-5 years in Australia with and without developmentally vulnerability and consider the intersection of socioeconomic disadvantage on this relationship. Method. Cross sectional data were collected from Wave 3 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children birth cohort when the children were aged 4-5 years. A composite variable for developmental vulnerability was designed by combining those children who were in the lowest 15% in the physical, socioemotional and/or learning outcome indices. Children were then subgrouped according to developmental vulnerability and disadvantage based on socioeconomic position (SEP) quintile (derived from parental education, occupation, household income). We defined SEP 1 the lowest quintile as ‘disadvantaged’ and SEP quintiles 2-5 as ‘not disadvantaged’. Multivariate regression was used to examine the intersection between health service use and developmental vulnerability and disadvantage using these composite variables. Results The total number of children with information on developmental vulnerability in Wave 3 was 3967 (90% of the s le). A total of 1292 (32.6%) children were classified as developmentally vulnerable. 30.6% of children who were developmentally vulnerable came from families who were disadvantaged. Overall children who were developmentally vulnerable were reported to use more specialist/hospital health services than those who were not developmentally vulnerable (10-25 % vs 5-16%). Children who were developmentally vulnerable and not disadvantaged were 1.4-2.0 times more likely to have reported using a GP, paediatrician, other specialist, and Emergency Department compared with children who were developmentally vulnerable and disadvantaged. Conclusion Preschool children who are developmentally vulnerable have a higher reported use of specialist and hospital services compared with those who are not developmentally vulnerable. There is evidence of an inverse care law those who were not disadvantaged with and without developmental vulnerability are more likely to use health services compared with their counterparts who were disadvantaged.
Time trends in socio-economic inequalities for women and men with disabilities in Australia: evidence of persisting inequalities
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2013
Prescription rates of the contraceptive implant in Australia 2008-2012: Impact of patient age and area of residence
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1071/SH15141
Abstract: Background Long-acting reversible contraceptives are an effective means of preventing unwanted pregnancies and associated negative consequences. The Sexual Health and Family Planning Association of Australia has called for efforts to address barriers to the uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) in Australia, where LARC uptake is thought to be low, though comprehensive data describing use and associated factors is scarce. The aims of this study were to describe patterns of prescriptions for the etonogestrel-releasing subdermal implant (SDI) in Australia, 2008–2012, and associated factors. Methods: Records of prescriptions written through Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from 2008 to 2012 were obtained, including patient age and geographic location. Direct, age-standardised rates (ASR) of prescriptions were calculated for each year and location, with multivariate analysis used to examine associations between prescription rates and patient age, location and proximity to family planning clinics (FPC) or Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS). Results: ASR of prescriptions rose ~6% per year (OR 1.06, 95%CI: 1.05–1.06) from 13.05 per 1000 (2008) to 15.76 per 1000 (2012 P 0.01). Rates were highest among 15- to 19-year-olds, increasing from 20.81 (2008) to 29.09 per 1000 (2012: P 0.01) and lowest among 45- to 49-year-olds, increasing from 3.37 to 3.73 per 1000 (P 0.01). ASR by location were significantly higher in regional than metropolitan areas. Conclusions:This is the first analysis of SDI prescriptions across all ages and regions of Australia. Uptake of SDI in Australia is increasing but remains low. Significant associations were found between prescription rates and patient age and residence in regional/remote areas.
Perceptions of safety and exposure to violence in public places among working age adults with disabilities or long-term health conditions in the UK: cross sectional study.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
Sickness Absence and Psychosocial Job Quality: An Analysis From a Longitudinal Survey of Working Australians, 2005–2012
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 03-04-2015
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWU355
Employment predictors of exit from work among workers with disabilities: A survival analysis from the household income labour dynamics in Australia survey.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-12-2018
The Influence of Masculine Norms and Occupational Factors on Mental Health: Evidence From the Baseline of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 16-01-2018
Abstract: Men employed in male-dominated occupations are at elevated risk of work-related fatalities, injuries, and suicide. Prior research has focused on associations between psychosocial and physical exposures at work and health outcomes. However, masculine norms may also contribute to mental health. We used data from the baseline survey of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health to examine whether: (a) men in male-dominated jobs report greater adherence to masculine norms (b) being in a male-dominated occupation is associated with poorer mental health and (c) being in a male-dominated occupation modifies the association between masculine norms and mental health. Masculine norms were measured using the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI-22). Mental health was assessed using the SF-12. Results of regression analysis (adjusted for covariates) suggest a linear relationship between the extent to which an occupation is male-dominated and endorsement of values on the CMNI-22. Many CMNI-22 subscales were related to poorer mental health. However, the need for self-reliance was identified as the strongest predictor of poorer mental health. The mental health scale did not appear to be patterned by occupational gender composition and we did not find an interaction between the gender ratio of an occupation and the CNMI-22 scale. These findings highlight the need to address harmful aspects of masculinity as a potential cause of mental health problems. More longitudinal research is needed on the social domains in which gender and health are experienced, such as in the workplace.
COVID ‐19 vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy among Australians with disability and long‐term health conditions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-01-2023
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.691
Abstract: COVID‐19 vaccination is the cornerstone of managing Australia's COVID‐19 pandemic and the success of the vaccination program depends on high vaccination coverage. This paper examined differences in COVID‐19 vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy for people with disability, long‐term health conditions, and carers – subgroups that were prioritised in Australia's vaccination program. Using data from 2400 Australians who participated in two waves of the Taking the Pulse of the Nation survey in April and May 2021, we described vaccination coverage and hesitancy among people with disability, severe mental health conditions, severe long‐term health conditions, frequent need for assistance with everyday activities, and carers. Vaccination coverage was estimated to be 8.2% in the population overall and was similar for people with disability, those with frequent need for assistance, and carers. It was higher for people with severe long‐term health conditions (13.4%) and lower for people with severe mental health conditions (4.3%). Vaccine hesitancy was high overall (35.6%) and was similarly high across the priority groups, with only small differences for people with disability, severe long‐term health conditions and frequent need for assistance. This study highlights a lack of difference in vaccination coverage for people with disability, long‐term health conditions, and carers compared to the general population. Sub‐optimal vaccination coverage for people in the priority groups leaves many people at significant risk of serious disease or death if exposed to COVID‐19, particularly in light of easing of disease‐control restrictions across Australia and the emergence of new variants.
Rebuttal to: Letter to the Editor by Robert Burton, in response to doi:10.1007/s10549-013-2794-5.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-2014
Recommendations for and compliance with social restrictions during implementation of school closures in the early phase of the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 outbreak in Melbourne, Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-09-2011
Benefits and harms of breast cancer screening: Cohort study of breast cancer mortality and overdiagnosis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-08-2023
DOI: 10.1002/CAM4.6373
Abstract: Quantifying the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening accurately is important for planning and evaluating screening programs and for enabling women to make informed decisions about participation. However, few cohort studies have attempted to estimate benefit and harm simultaneously. We aimed to quantify the impact of mammographic screening on breast cancer mortality and overdiagnosis using a cohort of women invited to attend Australia's national screening program, BreastScreen. In a cohort of 41,330 women without prior breast cancer diagnosis, screening, or diagnostic procedures invited to attend BreastScreen Western Australia in 1994‐1995, we estimated the cumulative risk of breast cancer mortality and breast cancer incidence (invasive and ductal carcinoma in situ) from age 50 to 85 years for attenders and non‐attenders. Data were obtained by linking population‐based state and national health registries. Breast cancer mortality risks were estimated from a survival analysis that accounted for competing risk of death from other causes. Breast cancer risk for unscreened women was estimated by survival analysis, while accounting for competing causes of death. For screened women, breast cancer risk was the sum of risk of being diagnosed at first screen, estimated using logistic regression, and risk of diagnosis following a negative first screen estimated from a survival analysis. For every 1,000 women 50 years old at first invitation to attend BreastScreen, there were 20 (95% CI 12‐30) fewer breast cancer deaths and 25 (95% CI 15‐35) more breast cancers diagnosed for women who attended than for non‐attendees by age 85. Of the breast cancers diagnosed in screened women, 21% (95% CI 13%‐27%) could be attributed to screening. The estimated ratio of benefit to harm was consistent with, but slightly less favourable to screening than most other estimates from cohort studies. Women who participate in organised screening for breast cancer in Australia have substantially lower breast cancer mortality, while some screen‐detected cancers may be overdiagnosed.
‘I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’m just ready to work’: mental health recovery narratives within the context of Australia’s Disability Employment Services
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-03-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-020-8452-Z
Abstract: Employment is recognised as facilitating the personal and clinical recovery of people with psychosocial disability. Yet this group continue to experience considerable barriers to work, and, constitute a significant proportion of in iduals engaged with Disability Employment Services (DES). Recognition of the role of recovery-oriented practice within DES remains limited, despite these approaches being widely promoted as best-practice within the field of mental health. The Improving Disability Employment Study (IDES) aims to gather evidence on factors influencing employment outcomes for Australians with disability. Descriptive analysis and linear regression of IDES survey data from 369 DES participants, alongside narrative analysis of data collected through 56 in-depth interviews with 30 DES participants with psychosocial disability, allowed us to explore factors influencing mental health, well-being and personal recovery within the context of DES. Psychosocial disability was reported as the main disability by 48% of IDES respondents. These in iduals had significantly lower scores on measures of mental health and well-being (44.9, 48.4 respectively, p ≤ 0.01), compared with respondents with other disability types (52.2, 54.3 p ≤ 0.01). Within this group, in iduals currently employed had higher mental health and well-being scores than those not employed (47.5 vs 36.9, 55.5 vs 45.4 respectively, p ≤ 0.01). Building on these findings, our qualitative analysis identified five personal recovery narratives: 1) Recovery in spite of DES 2) DES as a key actor in recovery 3) DES playing a supporting role in fluctuating journeys of recovery 4) Recovery undermined by DES and, 5) Just surviving regardless of DES. Narratives were strongly influenced by participants’ mental health and employment status, alongside the relationship with their DES worker, and, participants’ perspectives on the effectiveness of services provided. These findings re-iterate the importance of work in supporting the mental health and well-being of people with psychosocial disability. Alongside access to secure and meaningful work, personal recovery was facilitated within the context of DES when frontline workers utilised approaches that align with recovery-orientated practices. However, these approaches were not consistently applied. Given the number of people with psychosocial disability moving through DES, encouraging greater consideration of recovery-oriented practice within DES and investment in building the capacity of frontline staff to utilise such practice is warranted.
Redressing or entrenching social and health inequities through policy implementation? Examining personalised budgets through the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-11-2017
'I don't think they trust the choices I will make.' - Narrative analysis of choice and control for people with psychosocial disability within reform of the Australian Disability Employment Services program
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-08-2021
The effect of age and breast density on the sensitivity of mammography.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2004
DOI: 10.1186/BCR892
Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the role of the built environment in influencing obesity: A glossary
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2011
Hierarchical Models for International Comparisons
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 03-2019
Disabling working environments and mental health: A commentary
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.DHJO.2019.06.002
Abstract: Employment is a fundamental Social Determinant of Health known to have large impacts on mental health and other health outcomes. Across many countries of the world, people with disabilities are much more likely to be unemployed and looking for work than those without disabilities. The deprivation of employment opportunities is likely to have notable impacts on the health of people with disabilities. In this commentary, we outline the concept of "disabling working environments," which are defined as the range of experiences that affect the likelihood of people with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining quality employment which may then affect a disabled person's health. Disabling working environments are comprised of the following three mutually reinforcing components: 1) Differential selection into work 2) Selection into certain types of jobs and exposure to poor psychosocial working environments when in employment, and 3) Differential selection out of work (e.g., leaving employment at an earlier age than those who do not have a disability). We argue that policy and intervention design should consider the life course effects of employment on the mental health of people with disabilities.
Disability-based discrimination and health: findings from an Australian-based population study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2018
Abstract: Among working-age Australian adults with a disability, we assess the association between disability-based discrimination and both overall health and psychological distress. Using data from the 2015 Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers we estimated the proportion of working-age women and men (15-64 years) with disability who report disability-based discrimination by socio-demographic characteristics and assessed the association between disability-based discrimination and self-reported health and psychological distress. Nearly 14% of Australians with disability reported disability-based discrimination in the previous year. Disability-based discrimination was more common among people living in more disadvantaged circumstances (unemployed, low income, lower-status occupations), younger people and people born in English-speaking countries. Disability-based discrimination was associated with higher levels of psychological distress (OR: 2.53, 95%CI: 2.11, 3.02) and poorer self-reported health (OR: 1.63, 95%CI: 1.37, 1.95). Disability-based discrimination is a prevalent, important determinant of health for Australians with disability. Implications for public health: Disability-based discrimination is an under-recognised public health problem that is likely to contribute to disability-based health inequities. Public health policy, research and practice needs to concentrate efforts on developing policy and programs that reduce discrimination experienced by Australians with disability.
'Are you Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?': improving data collection at BreastScreen Victoria.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2004
DOI: 10.1111/J.1467-842X.2004.TB00924.X
Abstract: To evaluate the ascertainment and recording of clients' Indigenous status at BreastScreen Victoria (BSV) by assessing: staff compliance with best practice recommendations in ascertaining Indigenous status data collection practices and the consistency of recording of Indigenous status between visits. The Australian Bureau of Statistics/Australian Institute of Health and Welfare best practice recommendations for collecting Indigenous status data were compared against BSV practices. One hundred and thirty-three BSV staff were also surveyed about their practices of ascertaining Indigenous status. An audit of the consistency of recording Indigenous status at first and most recent visit to BSV was also conducted. Current ascertainment and recording of Indigenous status by BSV staff does not comply with best practice recommendations. A high proportion of staff were not ascertaining Indigenous status (34%), and/or perceived they were prevented from asking women whether they were Indigenous (53%). The consistency of recording of Indigenous status between women's visits was also low. Our findings are likely to be found in other services where collection of Indigenous status data occurs. To improve data collection, services need to: ensure questions regarding Indigenous status comply with best practice recommendations provide staff training regarding the importance of collecting the information and improve Indigenous participation and control of data collection and dissemination.
Using Mammographic Density to Improve Breast Cancer Screening Outcomes
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 10-2008
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-2835
Abstract: It is possible that the performance of mammographic screening would be improved if it is targeted at women at higher risk of breast cancer or who are more likely to have their cancer missed at screening, through more intensive screening or alternative screening modalities. We conducted a case-control study within a population-based Australian mammographic screening program (1,706 invasive breast cancers and 5,637 randomly selected controls). We used logistic regression to examine the effects of breast density, age, and hormone therapy use, all known to influence both breast cancer risk and the sensitivity of mammographic screening, on the risk of small (≤15 mm) and large (& mm) screen-detected and interval breast cancers. The risk of small screen-detected cancers was not associated with density, but the risk of large screen-detected cancers was nearly 3-fold for the second quintile and approximately 4-fold for the four highest density categories (third and fourth quintiles and the two highest deciles) compared with the lowest quintile. The risk of interval cancers increased monotonically across the density categories [highest decile odds ratio (OR), 4.65 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.96-7.31]. The risk of small and large screen-detected cancers, but not interval cancers, increased with age. After adjusting for age and density, hormone therapy use was associated with a moderately elevated risk of interval cancers (OR, 1.43 95% CI, 1.12-1.81). The effectiveness of the screening program could be improved if density were to be used to identify women most likely to have poor screening outcomes. There would be little additional benefit in targeting screening based on age and hormone therapy use. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008 (10):2818–24)
Response to: Methodological point on mediation analysis
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 09-06-2019
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYZ105
Socio-Economic Position and Suicidal Ideation in Men
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 31-03-2017
To what extent is the association between disability and mental health in adolescents mediated by bullying? A causal mediation analysis.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-05-2019
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYZ102
Determinants of false positive recall in an Australian mammographic screening program.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2005
In memory of Associate Professor Allison Milner, 1983–2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 02-2020
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYAA010
The association between young age at first birth and mental health later in life: does the effect vary by birth cohort?
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 09-2016
The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of screening mammography and symptomatic status.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 06-2000
DOI: 10.1136/JMS.7.2.105
Abstract: Objective To examine whether the accuracy of screening mammography varies according to symptomatic status reported at the time of screening. Setting Victoria, Australia, where free biennial screening is provided to women aged 40 and older. Methods We examined the sensitivity, specificity, and the positive predictive value of screening mammography by symptom status in 106 826 women from Victoria, who attended for first round mammography in 1994 and who did not have a personal history of breast cancer. Symptomatic status was ided into the following categories: asymptomatic significant symptoms, if the woman reported a breast lump and/or blood stained or watery nipple discharge and other symptoms, if reported. Unconditional logistic regression modelling was used to adjust for age, use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and family history. Results Sensitivity was lower for women with other symptoms (60.0%) than asymptomatic women (75.6%), or women with significant symptoms (80.8%). Specificity was lower for women with significant symptoms (73.7%) than asymptomatic women (94.9%), or women with other symptoms (95.4%). Among women who had invasive cancer detected during screening interval, women with other symptoms were more likely to get a false negative result (odds ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 3.04) than asymptomatic women, after adjusting for age, use of HRT, and family history. Conclusion The lower sensitivity in women with other symptoms requires further investigation. Possible explanations include increased breast density and poor image quality. The high sensitivity in women with significant symptoms is probably due to more cautious radiological practice, which has also resulted in low specificity in this group.
Hormone replacement therapy, percent mammographic density, and sensitivity of mammography.
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 05-2005
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-04-0165
Abstract: Objective: We examine to what extent the lower mammographic sensitivity found in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) users can be explained by any association of HRT use with higher mammographic density and more difficult to detect cancers. Methods: We used logistic regression to estimate the odds of a false-negative screen (a breast cancer diagnosed in the 24 months after a negative screening examination) for HRT users and to estimate, and adjust for, mammographic density (measured on a continuous scale, blinded, using a reliable, computer-assisted method), tumor characteristics (size, grade, and morphology), and potential confounders (age, symptom status, family history, and prior screening) among women ages ≥55 years who attended BreastScreen Victoria for first round screening mammography in 1994 and 1995 (1,086 breast cancers) and for subsequent round screening (471 breast cancers) in 1995 and 1996. Results: After adjusting for confounders, HRT users were more likely to have a false-negative screen [first round: odds ratio (OR), 1.99 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.4-2.9 subsequent round: OR, 2.29 95% CI, 1.4-3.8]. This effect was modestly attenuated by adjusting for mammographic density (first round: OR, 1.54 95% CI, 1.0-2.3 subsequent round: OR, 1.97 95% CI, 1.2-3.3). Adjusting for tumor characteristics resulted in a modest increase in the odds of a false negative at first round but had no effect at subsequent round. Conclusions: Mammographic density only partly explains the effect of HRT on sensitivity. Further research needs to clarify whether hyperemic breast tissue changes affect cancer detectability in HRT users as well as the possibility that the quality of mammography may be poor in some HRT users.
Area variation in recreational cycling in Melbourne: A compositional or contextual effect?
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2008
Abstract: To examine whether compositional and/or contextual area characteristics are associated with area socioeconomic inequalities and between-area differences in recreational cycling. The city of Melbourne, Australia. 2349 men and women residing in 50 areas (58.7% response rate). Cycling for recreational purposes (at least once a month vs never). In a cross-sectional survey participants reported their frequency of recreational cycling. Objective area characteristics were collected for their residential area by environmental audits or calculated with Geographic Information Systems software. Multilevel logistic regression models were performed to examine associations between recreational cycling, area socioeconomic level, compositional characteristics (age, sex, education, occupation) and area characteristics (design, safety, destinations or aesthetics). After adjustment for compositional characteristics, residents of deprived areas were less likely to cycle for recreation (OR 0.66 95% CI 0.43 to 1.00), and significant between-area differences in recreational cycling were found (median odds ratio 1.48 (95% credibility interval 1.24 to 1.78). Aesthetic characteristics tended to be worse in deprived areas and were the only group of area characteristics that explained some of the area deprivation differences. Safety characteristics explained the largest proportion of between-area variation in recreational cycling. Creating supportive environments with respect to safety and aesthetic area characteristics may decrease between-area differences and area deprivation inequalities in recreational cycling, respectively.
Associations between individual socioeconomic position, neighbourhood disadvantage and transport mode: baseline results from the HABITAT multilevel study
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 04-08-2015
Abstract: Understanding how different socioeconomic indicators are associated with transport modes provide insight into which interventions might contribute to reducing socioeconomic inequalities in health. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between neighbourhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage, in idual-level socioeconomic position (SEP), and usual transport mode. This investigation included 11,036 residents from 200 neighbourhoods in Brisbane, Australia. Respondents self-reported their usual transport mode (car or motorbike, public transport, walking or cycling). Indicators for in idual-level SEP were education, occupation and household income and neighbourhood disadvantage was measured using a census-derived index. Data were analysed using multilevel multinomial logistic regression. High SEP respondents and residents of the most advantaged neighbourhoods who used a private motor vehicle as their usual form of transport was the reference category. Compared with driving a motor vehicle, the odds of using public transport were higher for white collar employees (OR 1.68, 95% CrI 1.41-2.01), members of lower income households (OR 1.71 95% CrI 1.25-2.30) and residents of more disadvantaged neighbourhoods (OR 1.93, 95% CrI 1.46-2.54) and lower for respondents with a certificate-level education (OR 0.60, 95% CrI 0.49-0.74) and blue collar workers (OR 0.63, 95% CrI 0.50-0.81). The odds of walking for transport were higher for the least educated (OR 1.58, 95% CrI 1.18-2.11), those not in the labour force (OR 1.94, 95% CrI 1.38-2.72), members of lower income households (OR 2.10, 95% CrI 1.23-3.64) and residents of more disadvantaged neighbourhoods (OR 2.73, 95% CrI 1.46-5.24). The odds of cycling were lower among less educated groups (OR 0.31, 95% CrI 0.19-0.48). The relationships between socioeconomic characteristics and transport modes are complex, and provide challenges for those attempting to encourage active forms of transportation. Further work is required exploring the in idual-level and neighbourhood-level mechanisms behind choice of transport mode, and what factors might influence in iduals from different socioeconomic backgrounds to change to more active transport modes.
Do employment factors reduce the effect of low education on mental health? A causal mediation analysis using a national panel study.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 09-07-2018
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYY128
Abstract: Young people with low education have worse health than those with higher education. This paper examined the extent to which employment and income reduced the adverse effects of low education on mental health among people aged 20-35 years. We used causal mediation analyses to estimate the total causal effect (TCE) of low education on mental health and to decompose the effect into the natural direct effect (NDE) and the natural indirect effect (NIE) through two mediators examined sequentially: employment (labour-force participation/occupation skill level) and income. Three waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey (2012-14) were used to establish a temporal sequence between low education (not completing high school), mediators and mental health [the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5)] among participants aged 20-35 years. Among those who were employed, we conducted further analyses examining the effect of job characteristics as a mediator of the relationship between low education and mental health. The TCE of low education on the MHI-5 was -3.61 [95% confidence interval (CI) -5.30 to -1.92]. The NIE through labour force status and occupational skill level was -1.09 (95% CI -2.29 to 0.10) and -1.49 (95% CI -2.79 to -0.19) through both labour-force status/occupational skill level and income, corresponding to a percentage mediated of 41%. Among the employed, education had a much smaller effect on the MHI-5. Improving employment opportunities could reduce nearly half of the adverse effects of low education on the mental health of young people.
Do material, psychosocial and behavioural factors mediate the relationship between disability acquisition and mental health? A sequential causal mediation analysis.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 29-01-2018
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYX277
Abstract: There is evidence of a causal relationship between disability acquisition and poor mental health however, the mechanism by which disability affects mental health is poorly understood. This gap in understanding limits the development of effective interventions to improve the mental health of people with disabilities. We used four waves of data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (2011-14) to compare self-reported mental health between in iduals who acquired any disability (n=387) and those who remained disability-free (n=7936). We tested three possible pathways from disability acquisition to mental health, examining the effect of material, psychosocial and behavioural mediators. The effect was partitioned into natural direct and indirect effects through the mediators using a sequential causal mediation analysis approach. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to assess the impact of missing data. Disability acquisition was estimated to cause a five-point decline in mental health [estimated mean difference: -5.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) -6.8, -3.7]. The indirect effect through material factors was estimated to be a 1.7-point difference (-1.7, 95% CI -2.8, -0.6), explaining 32% of the total effect, with a negligible proportion of the effect explained by the addition of psychosocial characteristics (material and psychosocial: -1.7, 95% CI -3.0, -0.5) and a further 5% by behavioural factors (material-psychosocial-behavioural: -2.0, 95% CI -3.4, -0.6). The finding that the effect of disability acquisition on mental health operates predominantly through material rather than psychosocial and behavioural factors has important implications. The results highlight the need for better social protection, including income support, employment and education opportunities, and affordable housing for people who acquire a disability.
Does employment status mediate the association between disability status and mental health among young adults? Evidence from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 18-07-2023
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2023-108853
Abstract: Young adults with disabilities are less likely to be employed and more likely to have poor mental health than peers without disabilities. Growing evidence shows that social determinants of health may be causally related to mental health outcomes of people with disabilities. We aimed to assess if the disability to mental health association was mediated by employment status among young adults aged 20–35 years. Four consecutive years (2016–2019) of data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey were used to conduct a causal mediation analysis. We decomposed the total causal effect of disability status on mental health (Short Form-36 Mental Health Inventory-5) into the natural direct effect from disability to mental health and the natural indirect effect representing the pathway through the employment mediator (being employed being unemployed or wanting to work). 3435 participants (3058 with no disabilities, 377 with disabilities) were included in the analysis. The total causal effect of disability status on mental health was an estimated mean decrease in mental health of 4.84 points (95% CI −7.44 to –2.23). The indirect effect, through employment status, was estimated to be a 0.91-point decline in mental health (95% CI −1.50 to –0.31). Results suggest disability has an effect on the mental health of young adults a proportion of this effect appears to operate through employment. The mental health of young adults with disabilities could potentially be improved with interventions to improve employment outcomes among this group, and by supporting in iduals with disabilities into suitable employment.
Interaction of Nucleotides with a Trinuclear Terbium(III)-Dizinc(II) Complex: Efficient Sensitization of Terbium Luminescence by Guanosine Monophosphate and Application to Real-Time Monitoring of Phosphodiesterase Activity.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 18-12-2019
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.INORGCHEM.8B02731
Abstract: An in-depth study of the interaction of a trinuclear terbium(III)-dizinc(II) complex with an array of nucleotides differing in the type of nucleobase and number of phosphate groups, as well as cyclic versus acyclic variants, is presented. The study examined the nature of the interaction and the efficiency at which guanine was able to sensitize terbium(III) luminescence. Competitive binding and titration studies were performed to help establish the nature/mode of the interactions. These established that (1) interaction occurs by the coordination of phosphate groups to zinc(II) (in addition to uridine in the case of uridine monophosphate), (2) acyclic nucleotides bind more strongly than cyclic counterparts because of their higher negative charge, (3) guanine-containing nucleotides are able to sensitize terbium(III) luminescence with the efficiency of sensitization following the order guanosine monophosphate (GMP) > guanosine diphosphate > guanosine triphosphate because of the mode of binding, and (4) nucleoside monophosphates bind to a single zinc(II) ion, whereas di- and triphosphates appear to bind in a bridging mode between two host molecules. Furthermore, it has been shown that guanine is a sensitizer of terbium(III) luminescence. On the basis of the ability of GMP to effectively sensitize terbium(III)-based luminescence while cyclic GMP (cGMP) does not, the complex has been utilized to monitor the catalytic conversion of cGMP to GMP by a phosphodiesterase enzyme in real time using time-gated luminescence on a benchtop fluorimeter. The complex has the potential to find broad application in monitoring the activity of enzymes that process nucleotides (co)substrates, including high-throughput drug-screening programs.
Disability and public health research in Australia.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
Using kernel density estimation to understand the influence of neighbourhood destinations on BMI
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2016
Gendered experiences of unemployment, suicide and self-harm: a population-level record linkage study
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 20-04-2021
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291721000994
Abstract: Unemployment and being not in the labour force (NILF) are risk factors for suicide, but their association with self-harm is unclear, and there is continuing debate about the role of confounding by prior mental health conditions. We examine associations between employment status and self-harm and suicide in a prospective cohort, taking into account prior mental-health-related factors. We used linked data from the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure. The outcomes were chosen to be hospital presentation for self-harm and death by suicide. The exposure was employment status, defined as employed, unemployed, or NILF, measured at the 2013 Census. Confounders included demographic factors and mental health history (use of antidepressant medication, use of mental health services, and prior self-harm). Logistic regression was used to model effects. Analyses were stratified by gender. For males, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide [odds ratio (OR): 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–1.84] and self-harm (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.45–1.68) after full adjustment for confounders. NILF was associated with an increased risk of self-harm (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.32–1.55), but less of an association was seen with suicide (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.94–1.49). For females, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.93–1.80) and of self-harm (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.43–1.62), and NILF was associated with a similar increase in risk for suicide (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.98–1.75) and self-harm (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.26–1.40). Exclusion from employment is associated with a considerably heightened risk of suicide and self-harm for both men and women, even among those without prior mental health problems.
Gendered Working Environments as a Determinant of Mental Health Inequalities: A Protocol for a Systematic Review
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-2019
Abstract: Both gender and employment are critical and intersecting social determinants of mental and physical health. This paper describes the protocol used to conduct a systematic literature review of the relationship between “gendered working environments” and mental health. Gendered working environments (GWE) are conceptualised as involving: (1) differences in selection into work, and more specifically, occupations (2) variation in employment arrangements and working hours (3) disparities in psychosocial exposures at work, and (4) differences in selection out of work. Methods/design: The review will adhere to a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) search procedure. Key words will be identified that are specific to each of the four domains of GWE. The databases used for the search will be Scopus, Pubmed, Proquest, and Web of Science. Keywords will be adapted for the specific requirements of each electronic database. Inclusion criteria are: Using a validated scale to measure mental health (outcome) including exposures related to the four domains of GWE reporting estimates for both men and women and use of a cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional design. Studies will be excluded if they were published more than 10 years ago, are not in English or do not present extractable data on the relationship between GWE and mental health. Discussion: The proposed review will provide evidence about the numerous and complex ways in which employment and gender intersect (and are reinforced) to influence mental health over the life course.
Area variation in mortality in Tasmania (Australia): the contributions of socioeconomic disadvantage, social capital and geographic remoteness
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2006
Monitoring interval cancers in an Australian mammographic screening programme.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 09-1999
DOI: 10.1136/JMS.6.3.139
Abstract: Objective To report the interval cancer rate for BreastScreen Victoria. Design Electronic linkage of Breast Screen Victoria records with those of the Victorian Cancer Registry. Interval cancers were expressed as a proportion of the underlying incidence (proportional incidence), and the sensitivity as the number of screen detected invasive breast cancers ided by the total number of invasive breast cancers diagnosed in the screening interval. Setting Victoria, Australia where biennial screening is provided to women aged 40 and older. Subjects Victorian women aged 40–79 who attended first round screening in 1994 (103 023 women) and 1995 (107 057 women). Results The sensitivity of screening mammography for the two year interval increased with age (p for trend 0.001) and was 49.4% in women aged 40–49, 68.6% in 50–59 year old women, 80.7% in 60–69 year old women, and 85.2% in women aged 70–79. The proportional incidence in the first year after screening was 59% in 40–49 year old women and 27% in women aged 50–69. In the second year the proportional incidence was 93% in 40–49 year old women and 54% in women aged 50–69. Conclusions Interval cancers comprise such a large proportion of the expected number of cancers in 40–49 year old women that the benefit of screening is likely to be low. For women aged 50–69, the proportional incidence found in this study was similar to those found in the UK programmes.
Use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and survival following breast cancer diagnosis.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2005
Area disadvantage, socioeconomic position and women's contraception use: a multilevel study in the UK.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2009
Bullying and mental health and suicidal behaviour among 14- to 15-year-olds in a representative sample of Australian children.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 07-04-2017
Abstract: To provide the first Australian population-based estimates of the association between bullying and adverse mental health outcomes and suicidality among Australian adolescents. Analysis of data from 3537 adolescents, aged 14-15 years from Wave 6 of the K-cohort of Longitudinal Study of Australian Children was conducted. We used Poisson and linear regression to estimate associations between bullying type (none, relational-verbal, physical, both types) and role (no role, victim, bully, victim and bully), and mental health (measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, symptoms of anxiety and depression) and suicidality. Adolescents involved in bullying had significantly increased Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, depression and anxiety scores in all bullying roles and types. In terms of self-harm and suicidality, bully-victims had the highest risk of self-harm (prevalence rate ratio 4.7, 95% confidence interval [3.26, 6.83]), suicidal ideation (prevalence rate ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval [2.83, 6.49]), suicidal plan (prevalence rate ratio 4.1, 95% confidence interval [2.54, 6.58]) and attempts (prevalence rate ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval [1.39, 5.13]), followed by victims then bullies. The experience of both relational-verbal and physical bullying was associated with the highest risk of self-harm (prevalence rate ratio 4.6, 95% confidence interval [3.15, 6.60]), suicidal ideation or plans (prevalence rate ratio 4.6, 95% confidence interval [3.05, 6.95] and 4.8, 95% confidence interval [3.01, 7.64], respectively) or suicide attempts (prevalence rate ratio 3.5, 95% confidence interval [1.90, 6.30]). This study presents the first national, population-based estimates of the associations between bullying by peers and mental health outcomes in Australian adolescents. The markedly increased risk of poor mental health outcomes, self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviours among adolescents who experienced bullying highlights the importance of addressing bullying in school settings.
Coming of age on the margins A life course perspective on the time use of Australian adolescents with disabilities
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 26-09-2023
DOI: 10.1093/SF/SOAD127
Cohort profile: Ten to men (the Australian longitudinal study on male health)
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 29-09-2017
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYW055
Management of women with minor abnormalities of the cervix detected on screening: a qualitative study
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 02-2001
The politicisation of science in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: discussion of ‘Scientific integrity, public policy and water governance’
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-07-2021
The Australian longitudinal study on male health-methods
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2016
THE AUTHORS REPLY.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-09-2017
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWX310
Consequences of altered temperature regimes for emerging freshwater invertebrates
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-06-2016
Allison Milner: brilliant colleague, loving mum.
Publisher: AMPCo
Date: 11-2019
DOI: 10.5694/MJA2.50407
Predictors of Change in Employment Status and Associations with Quality of Life: A Prospective International Study of People with Multiple Sclerosis.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-08-2019
Precariously placed: housing affordability, quality and satisfaction of Australians with disabilities
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 22-12-2019
Psychosocial job quality, mental health, and subjective wellbeing: a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline wave of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2016
Perceived fairness of pay among people with and without disabilities: a propensity score matched analysis of working Australians
Publisher: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Date: 17-07-2015
DOI: 10.5271/SJWEH.3515
Reordering gender systems: can COVID-19 lead to improved gender equality and health?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
Violence and Mental Health
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2020
Association between fast food purchasing and the local food environment
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-12-2012
DOI: 10.1038/NUTD.2012.27
Individual and area-level socioeconomic associations with fast food purchasing
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2011
Abstract: It has been suggested that those with lower socioeconomic characteristics would be more likely to seek energy-dense food options such as fast food because of cheaper prices however, to date the evidence has been inconsistent. This study examines both in idual- and area-level socioeconomic characteristics and their independent associations with chain-brand fast food purchasing. Data from the 2003 Victorian Lifestyle and Neighbourhood Environments Study (VicLANES) a multilevel study of 2,547 adults from 49 small-areas in Melbourne, Australia, were used. Multilevel multinomial models adjusted for confounders were used to assess associations between in idual socioeconomic position (education, occupation and income) and area socioeconomic characteristics in relation to fast food purchasing from five major fast food chains with outcome categories: never, at least monthly and at least weekly. The study finally assessed whether any potential area-level associations were mediated by fast food access. Increased fast food purchasing was independently associated with lower education, being a blue-collar employee and decreased household income. Results for area-level disadvantage were marginally insignificant after adjustment for in idual-level characteristics, although they were suggestive that living in an area with greater levels of disadvantage increased an in idual's odds of more frequent fast food purchasing. This effect was further attenuated when measures of fast food restaurant access were included in the models. Independent effects of lower in idual-level socioeconomic characteristics and more frequent fast food purchasing for home consumption are demonstrated. Although evidence was suggestive of an independent association with area-level disadvantage this did not reach statistical significance.
Cumulative Effects of Bullying and Racial Discrimination on Adolescent Health in Australia
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 09-2019
Abstract: This study examined how cumulative exposure to racial discrimination and bullying victimization influences the health of Australian adolescents (n = 2802) aged 10 to 11 years (19.3% visible ethnic minorities [nonwhite, non-Indigenous] 2.6% Indigenous) using data from three waves (2010–2014) of the nationally representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Cumulative exposure to racial discrimination and bullying victimization had incremental negative effects on socioemotional difficulties. Higher accumulated exposure to both stressors across time was associated with increased body mass index z-scores and risk of overweight/obesity. Studies that examine exposure to single risk factors such as bullying victimization or racial discrimination at one time point only are likely to miss key determinants of health for adolescents from stigmatized racial-ethnic backgrounds and underestimate their stressor burden.
Does social support modify the effect of disability acquisition on mental health? A longitudinal study of Australian adults.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-07-2017
Access to alcohol outlets and harmful alcohol consumption: A multi-level study in Melbourne, Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-07-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1360-0443.2011.03510.X
Abstract: To assess the association between access to off-premises alcohol outlets and harmful alcohol consumption. Multi-level study of 2334 adults aged 18-75 years from 49 census collector districts (the smallest spatial unit in Australia at the time of survey) in metropolitan Melbourne. Alcohol outlet density was defined as the number of outlets within a 1-km road network of respondents' homes and proximity was the shortest road network distance to the closest outlet from their home. Using multi-level logistic regression we estimated the association between outlet density and proximity and four measures of harmful alcohol consumption: drinking at levels associated with short-term harm at least weekly and monthly drinking at levels associated with long-term harm and frequency of consumption. Density of alcohol outlets was associated with increased risk of drinking alcohol at levels associated with harm. The strongest association was for short-term harm at least weekly [odds ratio (OR) 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.16]. When density was fitted as a categorical variable, the highest risk of drinking at levels associated with short-term harm was when there were eight or more outlets (short-term harm weekly: OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.22-4.54 and short-term harm monthly: OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.07-3.04). We found no evidence to support an association between proximity and harmful alcohol consumption. The number of off-premises alcohol outlets in a locality is associated with the level of harmful alcohol consumption in that area. Reducing the number of off-premises alcohol outlets could reduce levels of harmful alcohol consumption.
Overt acts of perceived discrimination reported by British working-age adults with and without disability.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 26-09-2019
Abstract: Exposure to discrimination can have a negative impact on health. There is little robust evidence on the prevalence of exposure of people with disabilities to discrimination, the sources and nature of discrimination they face, and the personal and contextual factors associated with increased risk of exposure. Secondary analysis of de-identified cross-sectional data from the three waves of the UK’s ‘Life Opportunities Survey’. In the UK (i) adults with disabilities were over three times more likely than their peers to be exposed to discrimination, (ii) the two most common sources of discrimination were strangers in the street and health staff and (iii) discrimination was more likely to be reported by participants who were younger, more highly educated, who were unemployed or economically inactive, who reported financial stress or material hardship and who had impairments associated with hearing, memory/speaking, dexterity, behavioural/mental health, intellectual/learning difficulties and breathing. Discrimination faced by people with disabilities is an under-recognised public health problem that is likely to contribute to disability-based health inequities. Public health policy, research and practice needs to concentrate efforts on developing programs that reduce discrimination experienced by people with disabilities.
Disability acquisition and mental health: an analysis of excess mental health inequalities according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics using propensity score models with inverse probability of treatment weighting.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 09-2017
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2017-016953
Abstract: There is evidence of a causal relationship between disability acquisition and poor mental health, but the substantial heterogeneity in the magnitude of the effect is poorly understood and may be aetiologically informative. This study aimed to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors that modify the effect of disability acquisition on mental health. The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey is a nationally representative longitudinal survey of Australian households that has been conducted annually since 2001. Four waves of data were included in this analysis, from 2011 to 2014. In iduals who acquired a disability (n=387) were compared with those who remained disability-free in all four waves (n=7936). Mental health was measured using the mental health subscale of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) general health questionnaire, which measures symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological well-being. Linear regression models were fitted to estimate the effect of disability acquisition on mental health, testing for effect modification by key demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. To maximise causal inference, we used a propensity score approach with inverse probability of treatment weighting to control for confounding and multiple imputation using chained equations to assess the impact of missing data. On average, disability acquisition was associated with a 5-point decline in mental health score (estimated mean difference: −5.1, 95% CI −7.2 to –3.0). There was strong evidence that income and relationship status modified the effect, with more detrimental effects in the lowest (−12.5, 95% CI −18.5 to –6.5) compared with highest income quintile (−1.1, 95% CI –4.9 to 2.7) and for people not in a relationship (−8.8, 95% CI −12.9 to –4.8) compared with those who were (−3.7, 95% CI −6.1 to –1.4). Our results suggest that the detrimental effect of disability acquisition on mental health is substantially greater for socioeconomic disadvantaged in iduals.
Flow analysis methods for the direct ultra-violet spectrophotometric measurement of nitrate and total nitrogen in freshwaters
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.ACA.2011.07.048
Abstract: Second derivative ultra-violet spectrophotometric methods are described for the measurement of nitrate and total nitrogen in freshwaters using flow analysis techniques. A simple flow system consisting of a peristaltic pump and a single-reflection flow-through cell was used for the measurement of nitrate. Quantification of total nitrogen using alkaline peroxodisulfate photo-digestion was achieved by incorporating an ultra-violet photo-reactor, a hollow-fibre filter and a debubbler into the flow system. The nitrate system featured a limit of detection of 0.04 mg N L(-1), 0.4%RSD (1 mg N L(-1) as nitrate, n=10), a coefficient of determination (R(2)) of 0.9995 over the calibration range 0.0-2.0 mg N L(-1), and a data acquisition time of 1.5s per spectrum. The total nitrogen system featured a limit of detection of 0.05 mg N L(-1), 1%RSD (1 mg N L(-1) as ammonium chloride, n=10), a coefficient of determination of 0.9989 over the calibration range 0.0-2.0 mg N L(-1), and a throughput of 5 s le h(-1) measured in triplicate. Digestions of five model nitrogen compounds returned recoveries of >88%. Determinations carried out using the developed systems show a high degree of agreement with data obtained using reference methods. These methods require no colorimetric reagents and eliminate the requirement for a toxic cadmium reduction column. The overlap of chloride and nitrate spectra in seawater is not eliminated entirely by the use of second derivative spectrophotometry, and consequently the methods are restricted to the analysis of freshwaters.
Prevalence and risk of violence against people with and without disabilities: findings from an Australian population-based study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
Gender, parental education, and experiences of bullying victimization by Australian adolescents with and without a disability
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-01-2018
DOI: 10.1111/CCH.12545
Abstract: This study sought to compare the prevalence of bullying victimization between adolescents with and without a disability and between adolescents with and without borderline intellectual functioning or intellectual disability (BIF/ID). We also sought to assess whether the relationships between either disability or BIF/ID and bullying victimization vary by gender and parental education. The s le included 3,956 12- to 13-year-old adolescents who participated in Wave 5 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Three indicators of bullying were used: physical bullying victimization, social bullying victimization, and "any bullying victimization." We used Poisson regression to obtain the prevalence risk ratios (PRR) of bullying by disability status adjusting for potential confounders. In adjusted models, we found evidence that social bullying victimization was more prevalent among adolescents with a disability than those without a disability (PRR 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.42) and between adolescents with BIF/ID than those without (PRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07-1.44). Adolescents with BIF/ID were also more likely to experience "any bullying victimization"(PRR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.22). Having a disability and living in a family with low parental education were associated with an elevated risk of social bullying victimization BIF/ID. Adolescents with disabilities and BIF/ID are at elevated risk of social bullying victimization. School-based antibullying initiatives should concentrate on enhancing the inclusion of adolescents with disabilities, with an emphasis on adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Screening endoscopy and risk of colorectal cancer in United States men.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 1998
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of screening endoscopy (sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. We used data from a prospective cohort study of 24,744 men aged 40 to 75 years in 1986, free from cancer and colon polyps, followed until 1994. The outcomes are diagnosis of colorectal cancer and death from colorectal cancer. Screening endoscopy in 1986-87 was associated with a lower risk of all colorectal cancer (multivariate relative risk [RR] = 0.58, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.36-0.96) cancer in the distal colon or rectum (multivariate RR = 0.40, CI = 0.19-0.84) Dukes stage A&B (multivariate RR = 0.66, CI = 0.35-1.25) and Dukes stage C&D (multivariate RR = 0.50, CI = 0.20-1.26) colorectal cancer and death from colorectal cancer (multivariate RR = 0.56, CI = 0.20-1.60), after adjusting for age and a wide range of colon cancer risk factors. Screening endoscopy in 1988-87 appeared to provide strong protection against distal stage C&D cancers (age-adjusted RR = 0.16, CI = 0.02-1.23) but no protection against proximal stage C&D cancers (age-adjusted RR = 0.96, CI = 0.32-2.91). This study provides strong evidence for a protective effect of screening sigmoidoscopy on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality and supports recommendations for screening sigmoidoscopy as an approach to colon cancer prevention.
The double burden of poverty and marital loss on the mental health of older Australian women; a longitudinal regression analysis using 17 annual waves of the HILDA cohort
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-01-2021
Young maternal age at first birth and mental health later in life: Does the association vary by birth cohort?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2016.03.037
Abstract: It is well established that maternal age at childbirth has implications for women's mental health in the short term, however there has been little research regarding longer term implications and whether this association has changed over time. We investigated longer term mental health consequences for young mothers in Australia and contrasted the effects between three birth cohorts. Using thirteen waves of data from 4262 women aged 40 years or above participating in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, we compared the mental health of women who had their first child aged 15-19 years, 20-24 years, and 25 years and older. Mental health was measured using the mental health component summary score of the SF-36. We used random-effects linear regression models to generate estimates of the association between age at first birth and mental health, adjusted for early life socioeconomic characteristics (country of birth, parents' employment status and occupation) and later life socioeconomic characteristics (education, employment, income, housing tenure, relationship status and social support). We examined whether the association changed over time, testing for effect modification across three successive birth cohorts. In models adjusted for early life and later life socioeconomic characteristics, there was strong evidence of an association between teenage births and poor mental health, with mental health scores on average 2.76 to 3.96 points lower for mothers aged younger than 20 years than for mothers aged 25 years and older (Late Baby Boom (born 1936-1945): -3.96, 95% CI -5.38, -2.54 Early Baby Boom (born 1946-1955): -3.01, 95% CI -4.32, -1.69 Lucky Few (born 1956-1965): -2.76, 95% CI -4.34, -1.18), and evidence of an association for mothers aged 20-24 years compared to mothers aged 25 years and older in the most recent birth cohort only (-1.09, 95% CI -2.01, -0.17). There was some indication (though weak) that the association increased in more recent cohorts. This study highlights that young mothers, and particularly teenage mothers, are a vulnerable group at high risk of poor mental health outcomes compared to mothers aged 25 years and above, and there was some suggestion (though weak) that the health disparities increased over time.
Does employment security modify the effect of housing affordability on mental health?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2016
Predictors of vaccine hesitancy among disability support workers in Australia: A cross-sectional survey
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Accuracy of Mammographic Screening
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 08-2000
Liquid chromatography – quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry method for selected pharmaceuticals in water samples
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHROMA.2017.08.003
Abstract: This study developed an analytical approach for sub-ppb level detection and confirmation of 13 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water s les using ultra high pressure liquid chromatography hyphenated with a quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometer (UHPLC- Q-Orbitrap-MS). S le preparation was performed by using solid phase extraction (SPE) employing hydrophilic-lipophilic balance cartridges, with elution of sorbed analytes using methanol. Acceptable automatic gain control (AGC) target and maximum injection time (IT) were 1×10
Leave entitlements, time off work and the household financial impacts of quarantine compliance during an H1N1 outbreak.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-11-2012
Does the presence and mix of destinations influence walking and physical activity?
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-09-2015
Gendered working environments as a determinant of mental health inequalities: a systematic review of 27 studies
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 14-08-2020
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2019-106281
Abstract: ‘Gendered working environments’ describes the ways in which (1) differential selection into work, (2) variations in employment arrangements and working hours, (3) differences in psychosocial exposures and (4) differential selection out of work may produce varied mental health outcomes for men and women. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to understand gender differences in mental health outcomes in relation to the components of gendered working environments. The review followed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) search approach and focused on studies published in 2008–2018. The protocol for the review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019124066). Across the 27 cohort studies included in the review, we found that (1) there was inconclusive evidence on the effect of occupational gender composition on the mental health of men and women, (2) women’s mental health was more likely to be affected by long working hours than men’s however, precarious employment was more likely to be negatively associated with men’s mental health, (3) exposure to traditional constructs of psychosocial job stressors negatively affected the mental health of both women and men, and (4) unemployment and retirement are associated with poorer mental health in both genders. The findings from this review indicate that gendered working environments may affect the mental health of both men and women, but the association is dependent on the specific exposure examined. There is still much to be understood about gendered working environments, and future research into work and health should be considered with a gender lens.
Urban-rural differences in the management of screen-detected invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ in victoria.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2006
Inequalities in socio-economic and health and wellbeing of men with and without disabilities: a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline wave of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2016
Neoliberalism, economic restructuring and policy change: Precarious housing and precarious employment in Australia
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-07-2019
Abstract: Housing, employment and economic conditions in many nations have changed greatly over the past decades. This paper explores the ways in which changing housing markets, economic conditions and government policies have affected vulnerable in iduals and households, using Australia as a case study. The paper finds a substantial number and proportion of low income Australians have been affected by housing and employment that is insecure with profound implications for vulnerability. Importantly, the paper suggests that in Australia the economic gains achieved as a consequence of mining-related growth in the early 2000s were translated as greater employment security for some on low incomes, but not all. Enhanced access to employment in this period was differentiated by gender, with women largely missing out on the growth in jobs. For the population as a whole, employment gains were offset by increased housing insecurity as accommodation costs rose. The paper finds low income lone parents were especially vulnerable because they were unable to benefit from a buoyant labour market over the decade 2000–2010. They were also adversely affected by national policy changes intended to encourage engagement with paid work. The outcomes identified for Australia are likely to have been mirrored in other nations, especially those that have embraced, or been forced to adopt, more restrictive welfare and income support regimes.
Designing healthy communities: Creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2017
Status inconsistency and mental health: A random effects and instrumental variables analysis using 14 annual waves of cohort data
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2017.08.001
Abstract: Status inconsistency refers to a discrepancy between the position a person holds in one domain of their social environment comparative to their position in another domain. For ex le, the experience of being overeducated for a job, or not using your skills in your job. We sought to assess the relationship between status inconsistency and mental health using 14 annual waves of cohort data. We used two approaches to measuring status inconsistency: 1) being overeducated for your job (objective measure) and b) not using your skills in your job (subjective measure). We implemented a number of methodological approaches to assess the robustness of our findings, including instrumental variable, random effects, and fixed effects analysis. Mental health was assessed using the Mental Health Inventory-5. The random effects analysis indicates that only the subjective measure of status inconsistency was associated with a slight decrease in mental health (β-1.57, 95% -1.78 to -1.36, p < 0.001). This size of these coefficients was maintained in the instrumental variable analysis. We suggest that status inconsistency might explain some of the relationship between social determinants (such as work and education) and health outcomes.
The mental health impacts of health and human service work: Longitudinal evidence about differential exposure and susceptibility using 16 waves of cohort data
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
Men's work, Women's work, and mental health: A longitudinal investigation of the relationship between the gender composition of occupations and mental health
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2018.03.020
Abstract: This longitudinal investigation assesses the extent to which the gender composition of an occupation (e.g., the extent to which an occupation is comprised of males versus females) has an impact on mental health. We used 14 annual waves of the Household Income Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) study to construct a measure representing the gender ratio of an occupation. The outcome measure was the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). A Mundlak model was used to compare within and between person effects, after controlling for possible confounders. Results suggest that males and females employed in occupations where their own gender was dominant had better mental health than those in gender-neutral occupations (between person effects). However, within-person results suggested that a movement from a gender-neutral to a male or female dominated occupation was associated with both a decline (females) and improvement (males) in mental health. These results highlight the need for more research on gender specific selection into and out of different occupations in order to progress understandings of gender as a social determinant of health in the work context.
Improving health care for disabled people in COVID-19 and beyond: Lessons from Australia and England
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2021
RE: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION USE AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN OLDER AGE: A QUASIEXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE FREE BUS PASS POLICY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-02-2020
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWZ273
Personalisation and pandemic: an unforeseen collision course?
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2020
Hormone replacement therapy, percent mammographic density and the sensitivity of mammography.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2004
DOI: 10.1186/BCR832
Size distribution of screen-detected and interval cancers according to breast density suggests reduced screening benefit for women with higher density breasts.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2004
DOI: 10.1186/BCR833
Income inequality and Neisseria gonorrhoeae notifications in females: A country-level analysis
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/SH13188
Abstract: Background Patterns of population susceptibility to sexually transmissible infections may be influenced by various social determinants of health, however these receive relatively little attention. Income inequality is one such determinant that has been linked to a number of poor health outcomes. The objective of this analysis was to determine whether there is an association between income inequality and Neisseria gonorrhoeae notification rates when measured at the country level. Methods: Gini coefficients, gonorrhoea notification rates among women, per capita gross domestic product and approximate size of female population were obtained for 11 countries of the OECD. Linear regression was used to measure the association between income inequality and gonorrhoea notification rates, using generalised estimation equations (GEE) to control for the non-independence of repeat measures from particular countries. Results: A total of 36 observations from 11 countries were included. Gini coefficients ranged from 0.21 to 0.38 and gonorrhoea notifications from 0.7 to 153 per 100000 females. Significant associations were found between country-level income inequality and gonorrhoea notification rates among women (b = 17.79 (95% CI: 10.64, 24.94, P 0.01). Conclusions: Significant associations were found, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and accounting for social determinants of sexual health and suggesting that further research in this arena may be fruitful.
The cumulative effect of living with disability on mental health in working-age adults: an analysis using marginal structural models
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-03-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S00127-019-01688-9
Abstract: Previous studies have shown that acquiring a disability is associated with a reduction in mental health, but they have not considered the cumulative impact of having a disability on mental health. We used acquisition of a non-psychological disability to estimate the association of each additional year lived with disability on mental health (measured using the Mental Component Summary score of the Short Form Health Survey). We used the first 13 waves of data (years 2001-2013) from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. The s le included 4113 working-age (18-65 years) adults who were disability-free at waves 1 and 2. We fitted marginal structural models with inverse probability weights to estimate the association of each additional year of living with disability on mental health, employing multiple imputation to handle the missing data. Of the 4113 participants, 7.7 percent acquired a disability. On average, each additional year lived with disability was associated with a decrease in the mean Mental Component Summary score (β = - 0.42 95% CI - 0.71, - 0.14). This study provides evidence that each additional year lived with non-psychological disability is associated with a decline in mental health among working-age Australians.
The levonorgestrel intrauterine device in Australia: Analysis of prescribing data 2008-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-11-2018
Invasive lobular carcinoma: Sonographic features of cancers detected in a BreastScreen Program
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-02-2001
Trends and predictors of size and grade for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in BreastScreen Victoria
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2004
DOI: 10.1186/BCR838
Does parkland influence walking? The relationship between area of parkland and walking trips in Melbourne, Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2012
Consequences of Current Patterns of Pap Smear and Colposcopy Use
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 03-1996
DOI: 10.1177/096914139600300108
Abstract: To describe age specific frequencies of Pap smear and colposcopy use in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and to estimate the cumulative effects of current patterns of use. Frequencies of Pap smear and colposcopy use were estimated for the financial year from 1 July 1989 to 30 June 1990. Eligible women were between the ages of 15 and 74, living in the ACT. Data collected from a 10% s le of subjects enrolled with Medicare and from the only public pathology laboratory in the ACT were used to estimate age specific frequencies. The expected number of deaths from cervical cancer in the ACT in the absence of a screening programme was estimated by applying Australian age specific mortality rates for cervical cancer between 1960 and 1964 to the 1989 ACT population. A life table approach was used to simulate the cumulative risk of colposcopy – given current age specific rates – on a hypothetical cohort of 1000, 15 year old women. Forty four per cent (95% confidence interval (CI) 42.9 to 44.9) of women had a Pap smear and 2.5% had colposcopy (95% CI 2.4 to 2.6). Two and a half per cent of 15 to 24 year old women had colposcopy (95% CI 1.9 to 3.1). The ratio of women having Pap smears to women having colposcopy was 17.8:1 (95% CI 17.7 to 17.9). An estimated 247 women had colposcopy for every cervical cancer death in the 15 to 24 year old age group this ratio was 47 900:1. A 15 year old woman exposed to current rates of colposcopy (adjusted for hysterectomy) has a 76.8% chance of having a colposcopy during her life time. Many more women will have colposcopy than will develop cervical cancer, which undermines the cost effectiveness of Australia's cervical cancer screening programme.
Persistent and contemporaneous effects of job stressors on mental health: A study testing multiple analytic approaches across 13 waves of annually collected cohort data
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 19-08-2016
Racial discrimination and socioemotional and sleep problems in a cross-sectional survey of Australian school students
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 28-07-2020
DOI: 10.1136/ARCHDISCHILD-2020-318875
Abstract: To determine the prevalence of direct and vicarious racial discrimination experiences from peer, school and societal sources, and examine associations between these experiences and socioemotional and sleep outcomes. Data were analysed from a population representative cross-sectional study of n=4664 school students in years 5–9 (10–15 years of age) in Australia. Students reported direct experiences of racial discrimination from peers, school and societal sources vicarious discrimination was measured according to the frequency of witnessing other students experiences of racial discrimination. Students self-reported on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, with the total difficulties, conduct, emotional and prosocial behaviour subscales examined. Sleep problems included duration, latency, and disruption. 41.56% (95% CI 36.18 to 47.15) of students reported experiences of direct racial discrimination Indigenous and ethnic minority students reported the highest levels. 70.15% (95% CI 63.83 to 75.78) of students reported vicarious racial discrimination. Direct and vicarious experiences of racial discrimination were associated with socioemotional adjustment (eg, for total difficulties, total direct racism: beta=3.77, 95% CI 3.11 to 4.44 vicarious racism: beta=2.51, 95% CI 2.00 to 3.03). Strong evidence was also found for an effect of direct and vicarious discrimination on sleep (eg, for sleep duration, total direct: beta=−21.04, 95% CI −37.67 to −4.40 vicarious: beta=−9.82, 95% CI −13.78 to −5.86). Experiences of direct and vicarious racial discrimination are common for students from Indigenous and ethnic minority backgrounds, and are associated with socioemotional and sleep problems in adolescence. Racism and racial discrimination are critically important to tackle as social determinants of health for children and adolescents.
Employment status and mental health among persons with and without a disability: evidence from an Australian cohort study.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 22-07-2014
Determinants of false positive recall rates in an Australian mammographic screening programme.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2004
DOI: 10.1186/BCR831
Correspondence: Torturing inadequate data to generates ‘results’?
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 02-12-2019
A catchment study of sources and sinks of nutrients and sediments in south-east Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2014
Invasive breast cancers detected by screening mammography: A detailed comparison of computer-aided detection-assisted single reading and double reading
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1754-9485.2009.02100.X
Abstract: To compare double reading plus arbitration for discordance, (currently best practice, (BP)) with computer-aided-detection (CAD)-assisted single reading (CAD-R) for detection of invasive cancers detected within BreastScreen Australia. Secondarily, to examine characteristics of cancers detected/rejected using each method. Mammograms of 157 randomly selected double-read invasive cancers were mixed 1:9 with normal cancers (total 1569), all detected in a BreastScreen service. Cancers were detected by two readers or one reader (C2 and C1 cancers, ratio 70:30%) in the program. The 1569 film-screen mammograms were read by two radiologists (reader A (RA) and reader B(RB)), with findings recorded before and after CAD. Discordant findings with BP were resolved by arbitration. We compared CAD-assisted reading (CAD-RA, CAD-RB) with BP, and CAD and arbitration contribution to findings. We correlated cancer size, sensitivity and mammographic density with detection methods. BP sensitivity 90.4% compared with CAD-RA sensitivity 86.6% (P = 0.12) and CAD-RB 94.3% (P = 0.14). CAD-RB specificity was less than BP (P = 0.01). CAD sensitivity was 93%, but readers rejected most positive CAD prompts. After CAD, reader's sensitivity increased 1.9% and specificity dropped 0.2% and 0.8%. Arbitration decreased specificity 4.7%. Receiving operator curves analysis demonstrated BP accuracy better than CAD-RA, borderline significance (P = 0.07), but not CAD-RB. Secondarily, cancer size was similar for BP and CAD-R. Cancers recalled after arbitration (P = 0.01) and CAD-R (P = 0.10) were smaller. No difference in cancer size or sensitivity between reading methods was found with increasing breast density. CAD-R and BP sensitivity and cancer detection size were not significantly different. CAD-R specificity was significantly lower for one reader.
Use of health services by preschool-aged children who are developmentally vulnerable and socioeconomically disadvantaged: testing the inverse care law
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 13-03-2020
Abstract: The inverse care law suggests that those with the greatest need for services are least likely to receive them. Our aim of this study was to test the inverse care law in relation to the use of health services by children aged 4–5 years in Australia who were developmentally vulnerable and socioeconomically disadvantaged. Cross-sectional data were collected from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children birth cohort when the children were aged 4–5 years. Children were grouped according to the combination of developmental vulnerability (yes, no) and socioeconomic disadvantage (lower, higher), resulting in four groups (reference group: developmentally vulnerable and disadvantaged). Multivariate regression was used to examine the impact of the combination of developmental vulnerability and disadvantage on health service use, adjusting for other sociodemographic characteristics. 3967 (90%) of children had data on developmental vulnerability at 4–5 years. A third of children (32.6%) were classified as developmentally vulnerable, and 10%–25% of these children had used health services. Non-disadvantaged children who were developmentally vulnerable (middle need) had 1.4–2.0 times greater odds of using primary healthcare, specialist and hospital services and non-disadvantaged children who were not developmentally vulnerable (lowest need) had 1.6–1.8 times greater odds of using primary healthcare services, compared with children who were developmentally vulnerable and disadvantaged (highest need). We found some evidence of the inverse care law. Equity in service delivery remains a challenge that is critically important to tackle in ensuring a healthy start for children.
Urban area disadvantage and physical activity: a multilevel study in Melbourne, Austra
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 11-2005
Breadwinners and Losers: Does the Mental Health of Mothers, Fathers, and Children Vary by Household Employment Arrangements? Evidence From 7 Waves of Data From the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-07-2020
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWAA138
Abstract: In Australia, as in many industrialized countries, the past 50 years have been marked by increasing female labor-force participation. It is popularly speculated that this might impose a mental-health burden on women and their children. This analysis aimed to examine the associations between household labor-force participation (household employment configuration) and the mental health of parents and children. Seven waves of data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children were used, comprising 2004–2016, with children aged 4–17 years). Mental health outcome measures were the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (children/adolescents) and 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (parents). A 5-category measure of household employment configuration was derived from parental reports: both parents full-time, male-breadwinner, female-breadwinner, shared-part-time employment (both part-time) and father full-time/mother part-time (1.5-earner). Fixed-effects regression models were used to compare within-person effects, controlling for time-varying confounders. For men, the male-breadwinner configuration was associated with poorer mental health compared with the 1.5-earner configuration (β = 0.21, 95% confidence interval: 0.05, 0.36). No evidence of association was observed for either women or children. This counters prevailing social attitudes, suggesting that neither children nor women are adversely affected by household employment configuration, nor are they disadvantaged by the extent of this labor-force participation. Men’s mental health appears to be poorer when they are the sole household breadwinner.
The relationship between disability and suicide: Prospective evidence from the Ten to Men cohort.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-11-2018
Abstract: People with disabilities often face a range of social and economic adversities. Evidence suggests that these disadvantages result in poorer mental health. Some research also indicates that people with disabilities are more likely experience thoughts about suicide than people without disability, although most of this research is based on small cross-sectional s les. We explored the relationship between self-reported disability (measured at baseline) and likelihood of reporting thoughts of suicide (measured at follow up) using a large longitudinal cohort of Australian males. A logistic regression model was conducted with thoughts of suicide within the past 12 months (yes or no) as the outcome and disability as the exposure. The models adjusted for relevant confounders, including mental health using the SF-12 MCS, and excluded males who reported thoughts of suicide at baseline. After adjustment, there was a 1.48 (95% CI: 0.98–2.23, P = 0.063) increase in the odds of thoughts of suicide among men who also reported a disability. The size of association was similar to that of being unemployed. Males reporting disability may also suffer from thoughts of suicide. We speculate that discrimination may be one explanation for the observed association. More research on this topic is needed.
Monitoring of environmental flow outcomes in a large river basin: The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder's long‐term intervention in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-08-2019
DOI: 10.1002/RRA.3504
Moving beyond methods: the need for a diverse programme in climate change research
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-10-2014
DOI: 10.1111/ELE.12202
Abstract: Understanding effects of climate change on ecosystems will require a erse range of approaches. We proposed using downscaled climate models to generate realistic weather scenarios as experimental treatments. Kreyling et al. propose a gradient approach to determine the shape of response functions. These approaches are different, but highly complementary.
Employment Arrangements and Mental Health in a Cohort of Working Australians: Are Transitions From Permanent to Temporary Employment Associated With Changes in Mental Health?
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 28-05-2014
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWU093
Abstract: We investigated whether being in temporary employment, as compared with permanent employment, was associated with a difference in Short Form 36 mental health and whether transitions from permanent employment to temporary employment were associated with mental health changes. We used fixed-effects regression in a nationally representative Australian s le with 10 waves of data collection (2001-2010). Interactions by age and sex were tested. Two forms of temporary employment were studied: "casual" (no paid leave entitlements or fixed hours) and "fixed-term contract" (a defined employment period plus paid leave). There were no significant mental health differences between temporary employment and permanent employment in standard fixed-effects analyses and no significant interactions by sex or age. For all age groups combined, there were no significant changes in mental health following transitions from stable permanent employment to temporary employment, but there was a significant interaction with age (P = 0.03) for the stable-permanent-to-casual employment transition, because of a small transition-associated improvement in mental health for workers aged 55-64 years (β = 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.34, 2.87 16% of the standard deviation of mental health scores). Our analyses suggest that temporary employment is not harmful to mental health in the Australian context and that it may be beneficial for 55- to 64-year-olds transitioning from stable permanent employment to casual employment.
‘Nearly gave up on it to be honest’: Utilisation of individualised budgets by people with psychosocial disability within Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-06-2022
DOI: 10.1111/SPOL.12838
Abstract: Utilisation of budgets provides important insights into the effectiveness of in idualised funding schemes. Significant under‐utilisation by certain cohorts may indicate schemes are not working as intended. People with psychosocial disability have been identified as one such cohort experiencing barriers to effective budget utilisation within Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme. Our mixed‐methods research confirms that while this cohort receive sufficient budgets, their spending is lower in comparison to other participants. Addressing under‐utilisation drivers arising from complex interactions between in idual, systems, and contextual‐level factors, requires intervention within in idualised funding schemes and the broader policy environment.
How much of the effect of disability acquisition on mental health is mediated through employment and income? A causal mediation analysis quantifying interventional indirect effects using data from four waves of an Australian cohort study
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 11-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2021-055176
Abstract: There is evidence that disability acquisition causes a decline in mental health, but few studies have examined the causal mechanisms through which the effect operates. This study used a novel approach to mediation analysis to quantify interventional indirect effects (IIEs) through employment and income. We used four waves of longitudinal data (2011–2014) from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey, a nationally representative survey of Australian households. Working aged in iduals who acquired a disability (n=233) were compared with those who remained disability-free in all four waves (n=5419). Self-reported mental health was measured using the Mental Health Inventory subscale of the Short Form 36 general health questionnaire, which measures symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological well-being. We conducted a causal mediation analysis quantifying IIEs of disability acquisition on mental health operating through two distinct mediators: employment status and income. We used multiple imputation with 50 imputed datasets to account for missing data. The total causal effect of disability acquisition on mental health was estimated to be a 4.8-point decline in mental health score (estimated mean difference: −4.8, 95% CI −7.0 to –2.7). The IIE through employment was estimated to be a 0.5-point difference (−0.5, 95% CI −1.0 to 0.0), accounting for 10.6% of the total effect, whereas there was no evidence that income explained any of the effects. This study estimated that disability-related mental health inequalities could be reduced by 10.6% if employment rates were the same for people with disability as those without disability. The results suggest that employment is implicated in the relationship between disability acquisition and mental health and that more research is needed to understand the influence of other aspects of employment and other socioeconomic characteristics.
Evaluation of breast cancer incidence: is the increase due entirely to mammographic screening?
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 1999
Gender/Sex as a social determinant of cardiovascular risk
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 20-02-2018
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.028595
Abstract: The social gradient for cardiovascular disease (CVD) onset and outcomes is well established. The American Heart Association’s Social Determinants of Risk and Outcomes of Cardiovascular Disease Scientific Statement advocates looking beyond breakthroughs in biological science toward a social determinants approach that focuses on socioeconomic position, race and ethnicity, social support, culture and access to medical care, and residential environments to curb the burden of CVD going forward. Indeed, the benefits of this approach are likely to be far reaching, enhancing the positive effects of advances in CVD related to prevention and treatment while reducing health inequities that contribute to CVD onset and outcomes. It is disappointing that the role of gender has been largely neglected despite being a critical determinant of cardiovascular health. It is clear that trajectories and outcomes of CVD differ by biological sex, yet the tendency for sex and gender to be conflated has contributed to the idea that both are constant or fixed with little room for intervention. Rather, as distinct from biological sex, gender is socially produced. Overlaid on biological sex, gender is a broad term that shapes and interacts with one’s cognition to guide norms, roles, behaviors, and social relations. It is a fluid construct that varies across time, place, and life stage. Gender can interact with biological sex and, indeed, other social determinants, such as ethnicity and socioeconomic position, to shape cardiovascular health from conception, through early life when health behaviors and risk factors are shaped, into adolescence and adulthood. This article will illustrate how gender shapes the early adoption of health behaviors in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood by focusing on physical activity, drinking, and smoking behaviors (including the influence of role modeling). We will also discuss the role of gender in psychosocial stress with a focus on trauma from life events (childhood assault and intimate partner violence) and work, home, and financial stresses. We conclude by exploring potential biological pathways, with a focus on autonomic functioning, which may underpin gender as a social determinant of cardiovascular health. Finally, we discuss implications for cardiovascular treatment and awareness c aigns and consider whether gender equality strategies could reduce the burden of CVD for men and women at the population level.
How do employment conditions and psychosocial workplace exposures impact the mental health of young workers? A systematic review
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-04-2021
Screen detected and interval cancers; genomic analysis points to different molecular etiology?
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 15-02-2016
DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.SABCS15-P6-02-04
Abstract: Breast cancers diagnosed after a negative mammogram but prior to the next screening episode are termed "interval cancers" and comprise as many as 25% of all cancers detected in women attending population-based screening programs. The high interval cancer rate is a major problem affecting the effectiveness of mammographic screening. It is unclear whether interval cancers represent a distinct biological entity compared to screen-detected cancers or whether their designation is simply an arbitrary outcome of screening timing. Using an Australian prospective population-based cohort of over 53,000 women (lifepool), 537 cases of breast carcinoma (in situ and invasive breast cancer) were identified, of which 293 had known screening status at time of diagnosis. Pathology reports, mammographic density data, germline DNA and tumor tissue were available for analysis. Screen and interval cases showed no significant differences in mammographic density or PR status but there were trends towards higher proportions of ER negative and HER2 positive cases in interval cancers (p& .1). Interval cancers also had a younger age at diagnosis (p& .01), increased tumor size (p& .01) and higher grade (p& .01). Copy number analysis was performed on a subset of invasive breast cancer cases using OncoScan MIP arrays. No difference in the overall number of copy number aberrations or fraction of the genome altered were observed, however specific differences were noted between interval and screen detected cases. These included copy number changes on chromosomes 8 and 11. Analysis of germline DNA was performed using a panel sequencing approach of known breast cancer genes as well as lower-penetrance SNPs. Pathogenic mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53 and PALB2 were identified in 1/13 interval cases (in BRCA2), 1/66 screen-detected cases and 8/74 cases with currently unknown screen/interval status. Screen detected cancers may thus have a reduced contribution from high-penetrance predisposing variants. Citation Format: Gorringe KL, Hunter SM, Byrne D, Devereux L, Rowley SM, Elder K, Huynh R, Pridmore V, Hopper J, Kavanagh A, Mitchell G, Mann BG, Fox SB, C bell IG. Screen detected and interval cancers genomic analysis points to different molecular etiology?. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12 San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR Cancer Res 2016 (4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-02-04.
Research methods, evidence and public health
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2002
DOI: 10.1111/J.1467-842X.2002.TB00181.X
Abstract: In theory, our research questions should drive our choice of method. In practice, we know this is not always the case. At various stages of the research process different factors may apply to restrict the choice of research method. These filters might include a series of inter-related factors such as the political context of the research, the disciplinary affiliation of the researchers, the research setting and peer-review. We suggest that as researchers conduct research and encounter the various filters they come to know the methods that are more likely to survive the filtering process. In future projects they may favour these methods. Public health problems and research questions may increasingly be framed in the terms that can be addressed by a restricted array of methods. Innovative proposals - where new methods are applied to old problems, old methods to new areas of inquiry and high-quality interdisciplinary research - may be unlikely to survive the processes of filtering. This may skew the public health knowledge base, limiting public health action. We argue that we must begin to investigate the process of research. We need to document how and why particular methods are chosen to investigate particular sets of public health problems. This will help us understand how we know what we know in public health and help us plan how we may more appropriately draw upon a range of research methods.
Area-Level unemployment and perceived job insecurity: Evidence from a longitudinal survey conducted in the Australian working-age population.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 26-12-2014
Abstract: RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: Job insecurity, the subjective in idual anticipation of involuntary job loss, negatively affects employees' health and their engagement. Although the relationship between job insecurity and health has been extensively studied, job insecurity as an 'exposure' has received far less attention, with little known about the upstream determinants of job insecurity in particular. This research sought to identify the relationship between self-rated job insecurity and area-level unemployment using a longitudinal, nationally representative study of Australian households. Mixed-effect multi-level regression models were used to assess the relationship between area-based unemployment rates and self-reported job insecurity using data from a longitudinal, nationally representative survey running since 2001. Interaction terms were included to test the hypotheses that the relationship between area-level unemployment and job insecurity differed between occupational skill-level groups and by employment arrangement. Marginal effects were computed to visually depict differences in job insecurity across areas with different levels of unemployment. Results indicated that areas with the lowest unemployment rates had significantly lower job insecurity (predicted value 2.74 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.71-2.78, P < 0.001) than areas with higher unemployment (predicted value 2.81 95% CI 2.79-2.84, P < 0.001). There was a stronger relationship between area-level unemployment and job insecurity among precariously and fixed-term employed workers than permanent workers. These findings demonstrate the independent influences of prevailing economic conditions, in idual- and job-level factors on job insecurity. Persons working on a casual basis or on a fixed-term contract in areas with higher levels of unemployment are more susceptible to feelings of job insecurity than those working permanently.
Does area-based social capital matter for the health of Australians? A multilevel analysis of self-rated health in Tasmania.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 28-02-2006
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYL010
Abstract: Material circumstances and collective psychosocial processes have been invoked as potential explanations for socioeconomic inequalities in health and, linking social capital has been proposed as a way of reconciling these apparently opposing explanations. We conducted multilevel logistic regression of self-rated health (fair or poor vs excellent, very good, or good) on 14 495 in iduals living within 41 statistical local areas who were respondents to the 1998 Tasmanian Healthy Communities Study. We modelled the effects of area-level socioeconomic disadvantage and social capital (neighbourhood integration, neighbourhood alienation, neighbourhood safety, social trust, trust in public rivate institutions, and political participation), and adjusted for the effects of in idual characteristics. Area-level socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with poor self-rated health (beta = 0.0937, P < 0.001) an effect that was attenuated, but remained significant, after adjusting for in idual characteristics (beta = 0.0419, P < 0.001). Social trust was associated with a reduction in poor self-rated health (beta = -0.0501, p = 0.008) and remained significant when in idual characteristics (beta = -0.0398, P = 0.005) were included. Political participation was non-significant in the unadjusted model but became significant when adjusted for in idual characteristics (beta = -0.2557, P = 0.045). The effects of social trust and political participation were attenuated and became non-significant when area-level socioeconomic disadvantage was included. Area-based socioeconomic disadvantage is a determinant of self-rated health in Tasmania, but we did not find an independent effect of area-level social capital. These findings suggest that in Tasmania investments in improving the material circumstances in which people live are likely to lead to greater improvements in population health than attempts to increase area-level social capital.
Part-time versus full-time employment and mental health for people with and without disability
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2023
A Longitudinal Analysis of Changes in Job Control and Mental Health
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-2015
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWV046
Gendered associations between household labour force participation and mental health using 17 waves of Australian cohort data
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-11-2021
Does disability status modify the association between psychosocial job quality and mental health? A longitudinal fixed-effects analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2015.09.024
Abstract: People with disabilities have difficulties in obtaining work. However, evidence suggests that those with disabilities derive substantial mental health benefits from employment. This paper assesses how the relationship between work and mental health is influenced by psychosocial job quality for people working with a disability. The study design was a longitudinal cohort with 13 annual waves of data collection, yielding a s le of 122,883 observations from 21,848 people. Fixed-effects within-person regression was used to control for time invariant confounding. The Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) measure was used as the primary outcome measure. The main exposure was a six-category measure of psychosocial job quality and employment status (including 'not in the labour force' [NILF] and unemployment). Disability status ('no waves of disability reported' and 'all contributed waves with reported disability') was assessed as an effect modifier. We also conducted a secondary analysis on respondents contributing both disability and non-disability waves. For those with no disability, the greatest difference in mental health (compared to optimal employment) occurs when people have the poorest quality jobs (-2.12, 95% CI -2.48, -1.75, p < 0.001). The relative difference in mental health was less in relation to NILF and unemployment (-0.39 and -0.66 respectively). For those with consistent disability, the difference in mental health when employed in an optimal job was similar between the poorest quality jobs (-2.25, 95% CI -3.84, -0.65, p = 0.006), NILF (-2.84, 95% CI -4.49, -1.20, p = 0.001) or unemployment (-2.56, 95% CI -4.32, -0.80, p = 0.004). These results were confirmed by the secondary analysis. Efforts to improve psychosocial job quality may have significant mental health benefits for people with disabilities. This will contribute to the economic viability of disability employment insurance schemes in Australia and other high-income countries.
Sexual Orientation and Weight, Body Image, and Weight Control Practices among Young Australian Women
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 03-2009
Abstract: We compare weight, body image, and weight control practices of young adult Australian women according to sexual orientation. Cross-sectional analyses of the second survey of 9683 young adult women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) the weight, weight control practices, and body image of exclusively heterosexual, mainly heterosexual, bisexual, and lesbian women were compared. Lesbians were less likely to be dissatisfied with their body image (body weight: beta -0.64, 95% CI -1.10- -0.18 body shape: beta -0.83, 95% CI -1.27- -0.40 overall: beta -0.74, 95% CI -1.14- -0.32), to cut down on fats and sugars (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.85), and to engage in healthy weight control practices overall (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29-0.81) compared with exclusively heterosexual women. Compared with exclusively heterosexual women, bisexual women were more likely to weight cycle (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.22-4.03). Compared with exclusively heterosexual women, mainly heterosexual and bisexual women were more likely to engage in unhealthy weight control practices overall (mainly heterosexual: OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.42-2.17 bisexuals: OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.57-5.33), such as smoking (mainly heterosexuals: OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.38-2.44 bisexuals: OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.94-7.44) and cutting meals (mainly heterosexuals: OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.23-2.02 bisexual women: OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.82-6.54). Mainly heterosexual women were more likely to vomit (mainly heterosexuals: OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.73-3.36) and use laxatives (mainly heterosexuals: OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.12-2.19). Future research should explore why bisexual and mainly heterosexual women are at higher risk of disordered eating behaviours. Understanding why lesbians have a healthier body image would also provide insights into how to improve the body image of other groups. It is critical that public health policy and practice address less healthy weight control practices of sexual minority groups.
A compact portable flow analysis system for the rapid determination of total phosphorus in estuarine and marine waters
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.ACA.2010.06.030
Abstract: The development and evaluation of a portable flow analysis system for the in situ determination of total phosphorus is described. The system has been designed with rapid underway monitoring in mind. The system employs an ultra-violet photo-reactor and thermal heating for peroxodisulfate digestion of total phosphorus to orthophosphate, followed by spectrophotometric detection with a multi-reflective flow cell and low-power light emitting diode using the molybdenum blue method. Reagents are stored under gas pressure and delivered using software controlled miniature solenoid valves. The fully automated system has a throughput of 115 measurements per hour, a detection limit of 1 microg PL(-1), and gives a linear response over the calibration range of 0-200 microg PL(-1) (r(2)=0.9998), with a precision of 4.6% RSD at 100 microg PL(-1) (n=10). Field validation of the instrument and method was performed in Port Philip and Western Port Bays in Victoria, SE Australia, where 2499 analyses were performed over a 25 h period, over a cruise path of 285 km. Good agreement was observed between determinations of s les taken manually and analysed in the laboratory and those measured in situ with the flow analysis system.
Understanding the low uptake of long-acting reversible contraception by young women in Australia: A qualitative study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-09-2015
Fruit and vegetable purchasing and the relative density of healthy and unhealthy food stores: evidence from an Australian multilevel study.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 25-10-2013
Abstract: Evidence of a relationship between residential retail food environments and diet-related outcomes is inconsistent. One reason for this may be that food environments are typically defined in terms of the absolute number of particular store types in an area, whereas a measure of the relative number of healthy and unhealthy stores may be more appropriate. Using cross-sectional data from the VicLANES study conducted in Melbourne, Australia, multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the independent associations between absolute measures (numbers of healthy and unhealthy stores) and a relative measure (relative density of healthy stores) of the food environment, and self-reported variety of fruit and vegetable purchasing in local households. Purchasing behaviour was measured as the odds of purchasing above the median level of fruit and vegetables. Compared to households in areas where healthy food stores made up no more than 10% of all healthy and unhealthy stores, households in areas with 10.1-15.0% healthy food stores and >15% healthy stores had increased odds of healthier purchasing (OR=1.48 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.96) and OR=1.45 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.91), respectively). There was less evidence of an association between absolute numbers of healthy or unhealthy stores and fruit and vegetable purchasing. We found strong evidence of healthier fruit and vegetable purchasing in households located in areas where the proportion of food stores that were healthy was greater. Policies aimed at improving the balance between healthy and unhealthy stores within areas may therefore be effective in promoting greater consumption of fruit and vegetables.
Emotional difficulties and self-harm among British adolescents with and without disabilities: Cross sectional study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.DHJO.2019.04.007
Abstract: Little is known about the prevalence of emotional difficulties and self-harm among adolescents with a disability. Our aims were: (1) to estimate the prevalence of emotional difficulties and self-harm among British adolescents with and without disability (2) to determine whether prevalence varies by gender, severity of disability and type of functional limitation associated with disability. Secondary analysis of age 14 data from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study. Adolescents with disability reported significantly higher rates of emotional difficulties and self-harm than their non-disabled peers. Among participants with and without disability, prevalence rates were notably higher among girls for most outcomes. The strength of the association between disability and emotional difficulties and self-harm was greater for: maternal report of adolescent emotional difficulties disabled adolescents with moderate/severe activity limitations and adolescents with psychosocial impairments. There is a clear need for providers of all mental health services to ensure that reasonable accommodations are made to services to ensure that they are responsive to the specific needs of adolescents with disabilities. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which our results can be generalised to adolescents in other settings, to specific subgroups of adolescents with disabilities, to other measures of emotional difficulties and to other informants. Future research is also needed to further explore the consistency and determinants of the intersection between gender by disability regarding adolescent mental health.
Breast cancer screening of women aged 70-74 years: Results from a natural experiment across Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-12-2014
DOI: 10.1007/S10549-013-2794-5
Abstract: There is a lack of evidence regarding the optimal age at which to cease mammographic screening for breast cancer. This ecological study compared Australian state and territory level screening participation rates and cancer outcomes from 1996 to 2005 to identify the extent to which screening women aged 70-74 results in smaller, earlier stage breast cancers. With each 10 % absolute increase in screening participation, there was no significant difference in cancer incidence, but the incidence of large cancers was 8 % lower (IRR = 0.92, 95 % CI 0.90-0.94, p 15 mm) cancers-and possibly cancers with nodal involvement-without a concomitant increase in overall cancer incidence.
Time Spent Commuting to Work and Mental Health: Evidence From 13 Waves of an Australian Cohort Study
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 27-04-2016
DOI: 10.1093/AJE/KWW243
Individual and household-level socioeconomic position is associated with harmful alcohol consumption behaviours among adults
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1753-6405.2011.00683.X
Abstract: To examine associations between in idual-, household- and neighbourhood-level socioeconomic position (SEP) and harmful alcohol consumption. Adults aged 18-76 residing in 50 neighbourhoods in Melbourne completed a postal questionnaire (n= 2349, 58.7% response rate). Alcohol-related behaviours were classified by risk of short- and long-term harm. In idual-, household- and neighbourhood-level SEP were ascertained by education, household income and proportion of low-income households, respectively. The association were examined by multi-level logistic regression. Participants lower education or household income were less likely to consume alcohol frequently compared to their more-advantaged counterparts. Lower-educated men were more likely to be at risk of short-term harm [OR 1.75 (1.23 - 2.48)]. Low-income women were less likely to be at risk of short-term harm [OR 0.44 (0.23 - 0.81)]. Neighbourhood disadvantage was not associated with alcohol consumption. Men and women from socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds were more frequent consumers of alcohol, whereas their disadvantaged counterparts drank less frequently but in greater quantities on each drinking occasion. Socioeconomic disadvantage at the in idual and household levels may be an important determinant of alcohol consumption among Australian adults.
Reduced food access due to a lack of money, inability to lift and lack of access to a car for food shopping: A multilevel study in Melbourne, Victoria
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 22-02-2010
DOI: 10.1017/S136898001000385X
Abstract: To describe associations between demographic and in idual and area-level socio-economic variables and restricted household food access due to lack of money, inability to lift groceries and lack of access to a car to do food shopping. Multilevel study of three measures of restricted food access, i.e. running out of money to buy food, inability to lift groceries and lack of access to a car for food shopping. Multilevel logistic regression was conducted to examine the risk of each of these outcomes according to demographic and socio-economic variables. Random selection of households from fifty small areas in Melbourne, Australia, in 2003. The main food shoppers in each household ( n 2564). A lack of money was significantly more likely among the young and in households with single adults. Difficultly lifting was more likely among the elderly and those born overseas. The youngest and highest age groups both reported reduced car access, as did those born overseas and single-adult households. All three factors were most likely among those with a lower in idual or household socio-economic position. Increased levels of area disadvantage were independently associated with difficultly lifting and reduced car access. In Melbourne, households with lower in idual socio-economic position and area disadvantage have restricted access to food because of a lack of money and/or having physical limitations due difficulty lifting or lack of access to a car for food shopping. Further research is required to explore the relationship between physical restrictions and food access.
Associations Between Gender-Role Attitudes and Mental Health Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Sample of Australian Adolescents
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2019.01.011
Abstract: There is evidence that traditional gender-role attitudes are associated with poor mental health outcomes in adults however, few studies have examined associations among adolescents. We sought to test associations between gender-role attitudes and mental health among Australian adolescents. Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a nationally representative Australian study. Participants were 3,059 adolescents with complete data for Waves 5-6 (years 2012-2014, aged 12/13 and 14/15 years). Analyses were stratified by sex and controlled for parental education, household income, area socioeconomic position, ethnicity, religiousness, and household type. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to test associations. Egalitarian gender-role attitudes were associated with fewer conduct problems for adolescent males (ß -.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] -.08 to .00 p = .048) and females (ß -.06, 95% CI -.11 to -.01 p = .014), and for females, less hyperactivity (ß -.15, 95% CI -.20 to -.09 p < .001), better prosocial behavior (ß .08, 95% CI .03 to .13 p = .003), and better overall mental health (ß -.27, 95% CI -.43 to -.11, p = .001). There were no associations for peer problems or emotional problems. Associations were more apparent for females than for males, and analyses using adolescent- and teacher-reported mental health supported the main findings. Egalitarian gender-role attitudes among adolescents are associated with better outcomes on some dimensions of adolescent mental health, suggesting that establishing egalitarian gender attitudes in adolescence could help impart mental health benefits among this population group.
Fast food purchasing and access to fast food restaurants: A multilevel analysis of VicLANES
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2009
Housing tenure and affordability and mental health following disability acquisition in adulthood
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2016.01.010
Abstract: Acquiring a disability in adulthood is associated with a reduction in mental health and access to secure and affordable housing is associated with better mental health. We hypothesised that the association between acquisition of disability and mental health is modified by housing tenure and affordability. We used twelve annual waves of data (2001-2012) (1913 participants, 13,037 observations) from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. Eligible participants reported at least two consecutive waves of disability preceded by two consecutive waves without disability. Effect measure modification, on the additive scale, was tested in three fixed-effects linear regression models (which remove time-invariant confounding) which included a cross-product term between disability and prior housing circumstances: housing tenure by disability housing affordability by disability and, in a sub-s le (896 participants 5913 observations) with housing costs, tenure/affordability by disability. The outcome was the continuous mental component summary (MCS) of SF-36. Models adjusted for time-varying confounders. There was statistical evidence that prior housing modified the effect of disability acquisition on mental health. Our findings suggested that those in affordable housing had a -1.7 point deterioration in MCS (95% CI -2.1, -1.3) following disability acquisition and those in unaffordable housing had a -4.2 point reduction (95% CI -5.2, -1.4). Among people with housing costs, the largest declines in MCS were for people with unaffordable mortgages (-5.3, 95% CI -8.8, -1.9) and private renters in unaffordable housing (-4.0, 95% CI -6.3, -1.6), compared to a -1.4 reduction (95% CI -2.1, -0.7) for mortgagors in affordable housing. In sum, we used causally-robust fixed-effects regression and showed that deterioration in mental health following disability acquisition is modified by prior housing circumstance with the largest negative associations found for those in unaffordable housing. Future research should test whether providing secure, affordable housing when people acquire a disability prevents deterioration in mental health.
Area disadvantage, individual socio-economic position, and premature cancer mortality in Australia 1998 to 2000: a multilevel analysis.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-11-2007
Do places affect the probability of death in Australia? A multilevel study of area-level disadvantage, individual-level socioeconomic position and all-cause mortality, 1998-2000.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 2007
Socioeconomic position in young adulthood is associated with BMI in Australian families
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 19-08-2016
Abstract: Low socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) disease risk, but the relative importance of SEP in childhood and adulthood, and of changes in SEP between these two life stages, remains unclear. Studies of families may help clarify these issues. We aimed to assess whether SEP in young adulthood, or change in SEP from childhood to young adulthood, was associated with five continuously measured CV risk factors. We used data from 286 adult Australian families from the Victorian Family Heart Study (VFHS), in which some offspring have left home (n = 364) and some remained at home (n = 199). SEP (defined as the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage) was matched to addresses. We fitted variance components models to test whether young adult SEP and/or change in SEP was associated with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, after adjustment for parental SEP and within-family correlation. An increase in SEP of 100 SEIFA units from childhood to adulthood was associated with a lower BMI (β = -0.49 kg/m(2), P < 0.01) only. These results suggest that a change in SEP in young adulthood is an important predictor of BMI, independent of childhood SEP.
Use of breast cancer screening and treatment services by Australian women aged 25-44 years following Kylie Minogue's breast cancer diagnosis.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-05-2008
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYN090
The use of kernel density estimation to examine associations between neighborhood destination intensity and walking and physical activity
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-09-2015
Mammographic screening and breast cancer mortality: a case-control study and meta-analysis.
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Date: 09-2012
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-12-0468
Abstract: Background: Observational studies are necessary to assess the impact of population screening on breast cancer mortality. While some ecological studies have notably found little or no association, case–control studies consistently show strong inverse associations, but they are sometimes ignored, perhaps due to theoretical biases arising from the study design. We conducted a case–control study of breast cancer deaths in Western Australia to evaluate the effect of participation in the BreastScreen Australia program, paying particular attention to potential sources of bias, and undertook an updated meta-analysis of case–control studies. Methods: Our study included 427 cases (women who died from breast cancer), each matched to up to 10 controls. We estimated the association between screening participation and breast cancer mortality, quantifying the effect of potential sources of bias on our findings, including selection bias, information bias, and confounding. We also conducted a meta-analysis of published case–control studies. Results: The OR for participation in the Western Australian BreastScreen program in relation to death from breast cancer was 0.48 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38–0.59 P & 0.001]. We were unable to identify biases that could negate this finding: sensitivity analyses generated ORs from 0.45 to 0.52. Our meta-analysis yielded an OR of 0.51 (95% CI, 0.46–0.55). Conclusions: Our findings suggest an average 49% reduction in breast cancer mortality for women who are screened. In practice, theoretical biases have little effect on estimates from case–control studies. Impact: Case–control studies, such as ours, provide robust and consistent evidence that screening benefits women who choose to be screened. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 21(9) 1479–88. ©2012 AACR.
A multilevel study of area socio-economic status and food purchasing behaviour.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 26-02-2009
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980009004911
Abstract: The present study examined the association between area socio-economic status (SES) and food purchasing behaviour. Data were collected by mail survey (64·2 % response rate). Area SES was indicated by the proportion of households in each area earning less than $AUS 400 per week, and in idual-level socio-economic position was measured using education, occupation and household income. Food purchasing was measured on the basis of compliance with dietary guideline recommendations (for grocery foods) and variety of fruit and vegetable purchase. Multilevel regression analysis examined the association between area SES and food purchase after adjustment for in idual-level demographic (age, sex, household composition) and socio-economic factors. Melbourne city, Australia, 2003. Residents of 2564 households located in fifty small areas. Residents of low-SES areas were significantly less likely than their counterparts in advantaged areas to purchase grocery foods that were high in fibre and low in fat, salt and sugar and they purchased a smaller variety of fruits. There was no evidence of an association between area SES and vegetable variety. In Melbourne, area SES was associated with some food purchasing behaviours independent of in idual-level factors, suggesting that areas in this city may be differentiated on the basis of food availability, accessibility and affordability, making the purchase of some types of foods more difficult in disadvantaged areas.
Sources, perceived usefulness and understanding of information disseminated to families who entered home quarantine during the H1N1 pandemic in Victoria, Australia: A cross-sectional study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-01-2011
Mental Health Following Acquisition of Disability in Adulthood—The Impact of Wealth
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-10-2015
Hormone replacement therapy and mammography
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2000
Does disability modify the relationship between labour force status and psychological distress among young people?
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-12-2021
DOI: 10.1136/OEMED-2020-107149
Abstract: To examine the association between labour force status, including young people who were unemployed and having problems looking for work, and psychological distress one year later. We then assessed whether this association is modified by disability status. We used three waves of cohort data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. We fitted logistic regression models to account for confounders of the relationship between labour force status (employed, not in the labour force, unemployed and having problems looking for work) at age 21 years and psychological distress at age 22 years. We then estimated whether this association was modified by disability status at age 21 years. Being unemployed and having problems looking for work at age 21 years was associated with odds of psychological distress that were 2.48 (95% CI 1.95 to 3.14) times higher than employment. There was little evidence for additive effect measure modification of this association by disability status (2.52, 95% CI −1.21 to 6.25). Young people who were unemployed and having problems looking for work had increased odds of poor mental health. Interventions should focus on addressing the difficulties young people report when looking for work, with a particular focus on supporting those young people facing additional barriers to employment such as young people with disabilities.
Abortion laws reform may reduce maternal mortality: an ecological study in 162 countries
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-01-2019
Do gender and psychosocial job stressors modify the relationship between disability and sickness absence: an investigation using 12 waves of a longitudinal cohort
Publisher: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Date: 05-12-2020
DOI: 10.5271/SJWEH.3865
Abstract: Objectives A considerable proportion of the working population reports a disability. These workers may be at risk of adverse outcomes, including longer periods of sickness absence. This study examined the causal effect of disability on sickness absence and the role of psychosocial job stressors and gender as effect modifiers. Methods Data on paid and unpaid sick leave, disability (yes/no) and psychosocial job stressors were available from 2005 to 2017 from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. Negative binomial models were used to model the rate of sickness absence in a year. Results In the random effects model, workers with disability had 1.20 greater rate of sickness absence in a year [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-1.23, P<0.001] after adjustment for confounders. The rate was slightly lower in the fixed effects model. There was evidence of multiplicative interaction of the effect by gender and job control. The effect of disability on sickness absence was greater among men than women, and higher for people with low job control compared to those with high job control. Conclusions There is a need for more research about the factors that can reduce sickness leave among workers with disabilities.
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